How Does Surgery Help in Treating Bursitis of the Hip?

Surgery treats hip bursitis by removing the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that normally forms a cushion between the tendon and bone, according to Drugs.com. Injuries; infection; sitting or standing too long; or past surgeries can cause inflammation of the bursa, resulting in pain when sitting and stiffness when moving.
Doctors use surgery to treat bursitis if other treatment methods fail to bring relief. Some bursitis patients find relief with over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If bursitis is due to an infection, the doctor prescribes antibiotics to address the underlying cause of the swelling. If these measures do not bring relief, the doctor sometimes uses a steroid injection to help reduce swelling and pain, explains Drugs.com.
Lifestyle changes also help to manage bursitis, reports Drugs.com. When suffering bursitis, resting the hip as much as possible helps to allow the swelling and pain to decrease. Ice therapy reduces pain and swelling, but it is also useful at preventing tissue damage in some cases. Patients should limit the use of ice to 20 minutes at a time and apply it thee to four times daily. Sleeping in a position that does not put pressure on the affected hip is beneficial in the healing process. Some bursitis patients benefit from physical therapy and exercises that decrease pain while improving range of motion and strength.