Gluteal Tendinopathy
& Lateral Hip Pain
Injection Therapy
Specialist assessment and corticosteroid injection therapy for gluteal tendinopathy and lateral hip pain
Make an injection enquiryWhat Is Gluteal Tendinopathy?
Gluteal tendinopathy is a common cause of pain around the outside of the hip. It affects the gluteal tendons where they attach around the greater trochanter, the prominent bone at the side of the hip.
It is often grouped under the term greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) and may occur alongside irritation of the nearby bursa.
Symptoms commonly include pain when lying on the affected side, walking, climbing stairs, standing on one leg or getting up after sitting. Some people also notice pain after longer walks, running or exercise.
Although the term trochanteric bursitis is still widely used, lateral hip pain is often related to the gluteal tendons rather than an isolated bursal problem.
Want to Learn More About Gluteal Tendinopathy?
Read more about lateral hip pain, gluteal tendinopathy, rehabilitation and the wider treatment options available.
Learn More About Gluteal Tendinopathy →
When Can an Injection Help?
Corticosteroid injection can sometimes be helpful when lateral hip pain is particularly irritable and symptoms are significantly affecting sleep, walking or the ability to progress rehabilitation.
Reducing pain can make everyday movement more comfortable and provide an opportunity to begin or progress strengthening.
However, injection is not usually the first thing Victoria Smith recommends for gluteal tendinopathy. Many people can improve significantly with the right diagnosis, advice around tendon loading and a progressive rehabilitation programme.
For this reason, it is often worth booking a specialist hip assessment with Victoria first so she can understand what is driving the pain and whether an injection is likely to add anything useful.
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How Does a Lateral Hip Injection Work?
Corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory medicine.
Where injection therapy has a useful role, a small amount of corticosteroid is placed around the painful lateral hip region, usually around the affected bursal or peritendinous area rather than directly into the tendon.
The aim is to reduce pain and irritability, making sleep, walking and rehabilitation more comfortable.
Injection is usually considered as one part of the wider treatment plan rather than the whole treatment in itself.
Is Corticosteroid the Only Treatment?
No — and for gluteal tendinopathy, rehabilitation is particularly important.
Treatment often focuses on understanding which positions and activities are irritating the tendons, reducing unnecessary compression around the lateral hip and gradually rebuilding the strength and load tolerance of the gluteal muscles.
This may include changes to sleeping position, walking or exercise alongside progressive strengthening tailored to your current ability and goals.
Victoria has particular expertise in complex lateral hip pain and frequently helps patients improve without injection therapy.
If symptoms remain troublesome despite appropriate rehabilitation, injection therapy can then be discussed as an additional option.
Do I Need a Scan Before an Injection?
Not everyone needs new imaging before treatment.
Gluteal tendinopathy and GTPS can often be identified from your symptoms and specialist clinical assessment.
Ultrasound or MRI can sometimes be helpful where the diagnosis is unclear, symptoms have not responded as expected or the result would influence treatment.
If you already have imaging, Victoria can review this alongside your symptoms and clinical examination. Further imaging can also be arranged where it would provide useful additional information.
Specialist Lateral Hip Assessment in Gosport
Assessment and treatment of gluteal tendinopathy and lateral hip pain are provided in Gosport by Victoria Smith, Hip & Knee Specialist Physiotherapist.
Victoria has extensive experience managing complex lateral hip pain and gluteal tendon presentations.
Her first priority is to understand why the hip is painful and whether the problem is likely to respond to rehabilitation alone. Where injection therapy may add value, she can discuss this with you and incorporate it into a wider treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gluteal Tendinopathy Injections
Is Trochanteric Bursitis the Same as Gluteal Tendinopathy?
Do I Need an Injection?
Where Is the Injection Given?
Will I Still Need Rehabilitation?
Can the Injection Be Repeated?
When Might Surgery Be Considered?
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Not Sure Whether You Need an Injection?
You do not need to decide that before contacting us.
If you have persistent pain around the outside of the hip, booking a specialist assessment with Victoria can often be the best first step. She can help establish what is driving the symptoms and whether rehabilitation alone is likely to be enough.
If injection therapy could add useful benefit, she can discuss that with you as part of your treatment plan.
