Bursitis and outer-hip pain: symptoms and next steps
Updated: Oct 15
By Andy Duckmanton, BOst (Hons), GOsC registered osteopath.
Editorial update: 15 October 2026.
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between tissues around joints. An irritated or inflamed bursa can cause tenderness, pain and swelling. Not every painful area near a joint is bursitis.
Outer-hip pain is not always bursitis
Pain over the bony outside of the hip has often been called trochanteric bursitis. Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is a broader term because the gluteal tendons, nearby bursae or both can be involved.
Side-lying, walking uphill, stairs and rising from a low chair may be uncomfortable. These symptoms need assessment in context; they do not establish which tissue is responsible.
Read the hip and outer-hip pain guide for other possible causes, including hip-joint and back-related pain.
Practical changes for outer-hip symptoms
Try shorter, flatter walks if longer or hillier routes repeatedly aggravate symptoms, then increase gradually as tolerated. A handrail may make stairs easier.
Avoid lying directly on the painful side when this provokes pain. Try the other side with a pillow between the knees, or lie on your back. Change prolonged crossed-leg sitting or leaning onto one hip if these are uncomfortable.
Rehabilitation often combines adapting aggravating activity with gradual strengthening. Repeatedly stretching an irritable outer hip is not automatically helpful. Ask for exercises suited to your assessment and a plan for progressing them.
Bursitis around the knee
The bursa in front of the kneecap may become irritated after repeated kneeling or a direct blow. Temporarily reducing kneeling or using appropriate padding can reduce pressure. Infection is another possible cause, particularly after a skin break.
A new or unexplained lump behind the knee should be assessed by your GP. A Baker’s cyst is one possibility, but the location alone cannot confirm it.
For other knee symptoms, start with the knee-pain guide.
Symptoms that need prompt medical help
A suddenly painful, hot or swollen joint, especially with fever or feeling unwell, needs urgent GP or NHS 111 assessment. Infection needs medical treatment; massage or routine osteopathic care is not the appropriate first step.
New or worsening swelling, warmth or redness in one leg also needs urgent advice because a blood clot can resemble a ruptured Baker’s cyst. If leg pain and swelling occur with chest pain or breathlessness, call 999.
See your GP if symptoms are worsening or have not improved after one to two weeks of self-care.
Assessment and treatment options
Assessment considers the history, the affected area and whether a joint, tendon, bursa or another problem may be involved. A clinician may recommend tests or removal of fluid for analysis where appropriate, particularly if infection is a concern.
Reducing pressure on the area may help. For short-term comfort, a cold pack wrapped in a towel can be used for about ten minutes, with breaks between applications. Ask a pharmacist or GP about suitable pain relief.
Medical options depend on the diagnosis. Antibiotics are needed for an infected bursa; steroid injection may be considered for selected non-infected problems. An injection is not a substitute for confirming the cause.
At Eastbourne Osteopathy, Andy can discuss whether exercise, activity advice and optional hands-on care are suitable. Agree a useful goal and review the response. For hip arthritis, use the separate osteoarthritis guide.
Sources and further information
Sources checked: 13 October 2026. General patient information; assessment and care depend on your individual circumstances.
Patient information from Eastbourne Osteopathy. About Andy Duckmanton, BOst (Hons), GOsC registered osteopath.