Hip Bursitis, Gluteal Tendinopathy and PRP in Raleigh & Cary, NC

Related nonsurgical orthopedic resources

Hip pain treatment • Gluteus tendon tears

For patients in Raleigh and Cary, NC dealing with hip pain and hip arthritis, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be considered when symptoms persist despite appropriate conservative care. PRP uses a concentrated preparation of the patient's own platelets and is intended to deliver growth factors to an injured or degenerative area. At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, treatment decisions are individualized after a musculoskeletal evaluation, and injections are performed with ultrasound guidance when appropriate to improve anatomic accuracy. PRP is not the right treatment for every patient or every diagnosis, but it can be an important nonsurgical option to discuss before considering more invasive procedures. Our Raleigh and Cary offices evaluate patients throughout the Triangle for regenerative and nonsurgical orthopedic treatment options.

Understanding Gluteal Tendinopathy

Gluteal tendinopathy is a common cause of pain on the outside of the hip and may hurt with walking, stairs, lying on the affected side, or prolonged standing. The underlying problem frequently involves the gluteus medius or minimus tendons rather than an isolated hip bursa.

PRP and Nonsurgical Treatment for Gluteal Tendinopathy in Raleigh & Cary

For persistent gluteal tendinopathy, PRP may be considered when exercise-based treatment alone has not provided enough relief. Ultrasound-guided PRP can target the abnormal gluteal tendon while a rehabilitation program addresses hip strength and load tolerance.

Patients with gluteal tendinopathy do not all need the same treatment. The goal is to identify the painful structure, understand how severe the condition is, and choose the least invasive option likely to restore function. For patients considering PRP in Raleigh or Cary, an individualized evaluation can help determine whether PRP, rehabilitation, shockwave therapy, another injection option, or a combination approach makes the most sense.

Greater Trochanteric Pain: More Than “Hip Bursitis”

Pain on the outside of the hip is often called hip bursitis, but persistent lateral hip pain frequently involves the gluteus medius or gluteus minimus tendons. This broader condition is commonly called greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Symptoms can include pain while lying on the affected side, climbing stairs, walking hills, standing on one leg, or getting in and out of a car.

Treatment should address tendon loading and biomechanics rather than focusing only on inflammation. A progressive strengthening program, temporary modification of compressive positions, and correction of aggravating training or activity patterns can be important. Imaging may be useful when symptoms persist or when a significant gluteal tendon tear is suspected.

Corticosteroid injections may reduce pain in some cases, but repeated steroid exposure around a degenerative tendon is not always the preferred long-term strategy. PRP may be considered for selected chronic gluteal tendinopathy or partial tendon injury after appropriate conservative treatment. Evidence is still evolving, so candidacy should be individualized rather than assuming every case of lateral hip pain needs an injection.

Our Raleigh and Cary evaluations can use musculoskeletal ultrasound to examine the gluteal tendons, bursa, and other superficial structures around the hip. We also consider lumbar referral, hip arthritis, proximal hamstring pathology, and other causes of hip-region pain when the presentation is atypical.