It’s not a great surprise that over the last six months, we have seen an increase of patients suffering from Gluteal Tendinopathy coming into the surgery.
Hip pain, as many of our clients describe the condition, is typically experienced when you change up your activities. It may be that you would prefer swimming, but since the pools have closed, swapped your activity for running. It may be, like most of the nation, during the lockdown, you have put on a few extra pounds. It could even be from a different sitting position while you are working from home.
Although there are several reasons as to why you might have developed lateral hip pain, gluteal tendinopathy occurs due to weakness in the gluteal muscles, which strain under movement or load. It can cause tiny tears in the tendon tissue, and when the gluteal tendons fail to heal completely, it can cause an ache or bruise on the side of the hip.
Gluteal tendinopathy can make it very difficult to sleep and can leave your hips very stiff in the morning, or after a long rest period.
How do I know if I have Gluteal Tendinopathy?
Gluteal Tendinopathy is relatively common, with 10-25% of the population suffering from it. It is also seen more in women, due to a broader Q-angle (wider hips).
Signs and symptoms include –
- Hip pain which can radiate down the thigh and to the knee
- Pain or aching which becomes worse when moving up or down the stairs
- Pain or ache which becomes worse when crossing legs
- Pain or discomfort when sleeping on either side
- Pain is worse in the morning or after a long rest
- Pain in the groin, lower back or into the buttock
- Standing for long periods and feeling uncomfortable
How is Gluteal Tendinopathy diagnosed?
Clinical tests and patient history can typically give us a good understanding of any injury.
Once we have ruled out any other potential causes, we can then go ahead and perform an ultrasound which will give us a clear and full diagnosis.
How long does it take for gluteal tendinopathy to heal?
There is no set recovery time with gluteal tendinopathy.
Recovery time is dependent on the work you put in, to strengthen the glute and the treatment you choose to undergo. Physio and changing the way you sit, stand, and walk, can all be beneficial to the healing process and prevent you from having another flare-up altogether. For this reason, some of our clients spend weeks recovering, and others can suffer for years (especially for those over 50).
How to treat gluteal tendinopathy?
There are many things you can go day-to-day at home to help recovery.
- Decrease the load – If you are overweight, now would be a good time to start to lighten the load. Any weight-bearing on the hips can increase your chance of getting gluteal tendinopathy or prolong your recovery time.
- Avoid weight-bearing activities – Lifting heavy loads, such as weights or large loaded boxes, can also prolong your recovery.
- Change your sleeping position – It is sometimes better to sleep on the non-painful side; however, everyone is different, so find a position that helps you fall asleep. A handy tip would be to use a pillow under or between your knees to take that “pull/strain” out from your hips.
- Small gentle flat walks that minimally aggravate pain
- Seek physiotherapy – A good physio will help you exercise, find better core stability and improve your sitting/standing posture.
Resting will not cure gluteal tendinopathy. It is best to continue light exercise, which does not strain the hip joint.
Corticosteroid injections for gluteal tendinopathy
Corticosteroid injections treat a range of conditions to help relieve pain and inflammation in specific areas of the body.
They work by shutting down collagen-producing cells in the tendon or joint, suppressing the inflammation and calming the nerves. In turn, this helps to relieve the pain and swelling.
Many clients use corticosteroid injections as a quick and effective way to stop the pain and aid recovery. Although steroid injections help with pain management and the healing processes, the above treatments should also be performed to prevent the recurrence of gluteal tendinopathy.
If you have joint issues or suspect you may be suffering from gluteal tendinopathy, why not book a consultation today.
