We’d like to use cookies to understand how our website is used and to measure our Google advertising. They’re only set if you agree. Essential settings, such as remembering this choice, are always used. Find out more.
Pain on the outside of the hip, often called hip bursitis, is usually caused by irritated tendons rather than the bursa alone. Exercise and advice are the main treatment, with injections or shockwave if needed.
Hip bursitis, also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome, causes pain over the bony point on the outside of the hip. It used to be blamed on an inflamed bursa (a small fluid-filled cushion), but it’s now known that the gluteal tendons are usually involved too (gluteal tendinopathy).
It’s most common in women over 40, and can be triggered by a change in activity, weight gain or lying on one side.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hip bursitis
Outer hip pain
Pain on the outside of the hip, sometimes spreading down the thigh.
Pain lying on your side
Pain at night, especially lying on the affected side.
Pain on stairs
Pain climbing stairs, walking uphill or standing on one leg.
Pain after sitting
Pain getting up after sitting, or sitting with legs crossed.
Treatment options
Treatment for hip bursitis
Ultrasound scan
From £120
An ultrasound scan to look at the gluteal tendons and bursa.
Steroid injection
£250
An ultrasound-guided injection to ease pain in the short term, alongside exercise.
Book online or call us. Many of our consultations are free.
02
Assessment
We listen to your history, examine you and, where it helps, scan the area with ultrasound.
03
Your plan
We explain what we think is going on and your options, with costs, so you can decide.
04
Treatment and review
We start treatment if it’s right for you, and check your progress as you go.
Self-care
Helping yourself
Avoid crossing your legs and standing with your weight on one hip.
Put a pillow between your knees when lying on your side.
Build up activity gradually, and follow your strengthening exercises.
Your clinicians
Meet the team
Gary Edwards
Injection Therapist and Chiropractor, Clinic Director
GCC 03996
Dr Gabriel Azzini
Doctor, Sport & Exercise Medicine
GMC 7689922
Registered and regulated
Google reviews
What our patients say
5.0from 150 Google reviews
Plantar fasciitis★★★★★
Severe plantar fasciitis. Had several sessions with Gary, shockwave therapy. Really has settled down well. Gary provides calm reassurance coupled with great knowledge and expertise in the field.
Graham C. · 2026 · Google review
Plantar fasciitis★★★★★
Gary is very knowledgeable and has given me lots of great advice and the treatment has been great! My pain levels are much better… Booking was easy using the online system and Gary has been very helpful and friendly.
Emily C. · 2023 · Google review
Plantar fasciitis★★★★★
I’ve just had my 6th treatment for plantar fasciitis and I am very happy with the reduction in pain so far. Gary has been so informative and invested in my healing process.
Olivia M. · 2025 · Google review
Achilles tendinopathy★★★★★
Gary was a great help, in particular his recommendations on using the balance pad to strengthen surrounding tendons… It took a long time to notice any major improvement… Give it a go, but please don’t expect it to work quickly and solve everything.
Max E. · 2026 · Google review
Achilles tendinopathy★★★★★
After an initial consultation with Gary for achilles tendonitis, an ultrasound scan followed by shockwave treatment, I then had weekly sessions over a period of 2 months… The shockwave results weren’t instantaneous and the pain sometimes fluctuated.
Mel R. · 2025 · Google review
Calcific tendonitis★★★★★
Attended Gary at the Vale Health Clinic for chronic shoulder calcific tendinopathy… Gary was informative, without being condescending, and explaining everything he was doing and why, as well as being personable and chatty!
Alison W. · 2026 · Google review
Tennis elbow★★★★★
I have had 5 sessions with Gary, and so far things are going really well. I am not totally pain free but am now able to do most things without a problem. He gave me gentle exercises to do… Gary is very knowledgeable and takes time to listen to you.
Stuart P. · 2017 · Google review
Cortisone injection★★★★★
I recently had an ultrasound guided cortisone injection with Gary… Gary took the time to explain everything clearly before the procedure which really put me at ease, not easy when you’re not a fan of needles! The process itself was essentially pain free.
Not on its own. A trial found that education and exercise worked better than a steroid injection at both 8 weeks and one year [1]. An injection can still help ease pain in the short term.
How should I sleep?
Try lying on your back, or on the other side with a pillow between your knees, so your top leg doesn’t drop across.
Does stretching help?
Some stretches that pull across the outer hip can make it worse. We’ll show you which exercises to do and which to avoid.
Got another question?Ask us at your consultation. You don’t have to go ahead.
ClinicVale Health Clinic, 31–33 Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells TN1 1BS
References
Mellor R, Bennell K, Grimaldi A, et al. Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial. BMJ 2018;361:k1662. doi:10.1136/bmj.k1662
Written by Gary Edwards, Injection Therapist (PG Cert Injection Therapy) and Chiropractor (GCC 03996). Last updated 15 October 2026.
