Trochanteric bursitis: Stephen’s story | Advance7

Stephen Marsh

Recently retired construction project manager Stephen Marsh spent thirty years up and down ladders on big housing estates, and played plenty of rugby before that. By the time the pain on the outside of his hip set in, it was so bad he couldn’t lie on that side. He tells us how he got back on his feet.

Stephen, tell us a little about yourself.

I retired four years ago. I spent most of my working life as a project manager in construction, running big housing estate builds. It’s not a desk job. You’re up and down ladders all day, checking every stage of the build, walking the site over rough ground in all weathers. Before that, I played a lot of rugby in my younger years. I loved it, but between the rugby and thirty years of clambering about on building sites, I think my body, and my hips in particular, took a real battering.

When did you first notice something was wrong?

It started as a deep ache on the outside of my hip, at first just after a long day at work, then more and more often. The worst part was at night. I couldn’t lie on that side without a sharp, burning pain, and I’m a side sleeper, so I was waking up over and over. It was very hard to get comfortable. Going up the stairs hurt and getting in and out of the car hurt. Something on the side of your hip affected an awful lot.

What did you do about it?

I assumed I’d just overdone it over the years and that it would settle if I took it easy. I tried all the usual things, stretching, a hot water bottle, and the odd painkiller. It would ease off for a week or two, then come straight back. It just would not clear.

When did you find out what it actually was?

I finally went to my doctor, who examined the hip and pressed on the bony point on the outside, which made me jump. He told me it was bursitis. Hip bursitis, or trochanteric bursitis to give it its full name, is sometimes called greater trochanteric pain syndrome. The little fluid-filled sac, the bursa, that cushions the outside of the hip had become inflamed, and years of rugby and clambering about on site had not helped. It explained everything, especially why lying on it at night was so painful.

What treatment were you offered?

He started me on the sensible things. Rest, anti-inflammatories, and some physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around the hip, which I did stick at. I had a steroid injection as well, and that helped for a while, but after a couple of months, the pain crept back. I was told I could have the injections again and that in stubborn cases there’s a small operation, but I really didn’t want to be having injections forever, and I certainly didn’t want surgery. I just wanted a decent night’s sleep and to stay active.

How did you come across Advance7?

I’d started limping a little, favouring the other side, and I could feel that beginning to tell on my knee and my foot. My friend recommended Advance7. It’s a gel you massage straight into the area, with capsules you take alongside it. It made sense to me, so I gave it a go.

What difference has it made?

For me, working the gel into the outside of the hip is the thing. The massage gets the blood flowing, and it soothes the pain, and being able to lie on that side and sleep again made an enormous difference. I can’t say it’s good every single day; I still get the odd grumble after a long walk, but it’s manageable now, and I’m out and about again, sleeping through, which a year ago I thought I might have to give up on. I take the capsules alongside it as well. I use it every day, and I wouldn’t be without it.

What would you say to someone going through the same thing?

Don’t just put up with it and hope it goes away, because mine never did on its own. If you’ve got pain on the outside of your hip, especially if it’s keeping you awake at night, get it looked at and find out what it is. Advance7 is what worked for me, so I’d say it’s well worth a try. You don’t have to simply accept these things and slow down. I’m proof of that.