The aches and stiffness of arthritis can make life more difficult. Support from a loved one can help ease the burden of those challenges and even ensure more effective treatment.
Anatomy
The gluteus medius and minimus muscles start at the iliac crest of the pelvis and form tendons that attach to the greater trochanter of the femur (bony knob on the side of your hip).
Gluteus medius Gluteus Minimus
images from www.orthobullets.com
Symptoms
While some may be acute, generally injuries of these muscles develop over time and predominantly affect females. Typical symptoms are pain over the trochanter (bursitis) and when tears are large enough, will present with a limp or (Trendelenburg gait). This is due to the inability of the muscle to balance or keep the pelvis level while walking, which makes the bursitis that much worse. Most patients that present with tears are middle aged females that have had multiple trochanteric hip injections without significant relief of their symptoms.
Treatment
In patients where initial conservative measure have failed including steroid injections, an MRI is typically the next step. MRI helps us evaluate the soft tissues around the hip and lets us see gluteus medius tears. PRP recently has been shown to be effective at both 3 months and 2 years at relieving symptoms and improving function of the hip and may be an important adjunct in the treatment of small partial abductor tears. With MRI evidence of a tear and marked abduction weakness an endoscopic repair may be indicated. Endoscopic repair is also indicated for full thickness tears. In some rare instances the tear can be retracted and muscle atrophy has set in and a salvage procedure such as a gluteus maximus muscle transfer is required for pain relief.
You Might Also Enjoy...
The aches and stiffness of arthritis can make life more difficult. Support from a loved one can help ease the burden of those challenges and even ensure more effective treatment.
If you’re bothered by chronic pain, you may be injections away from relief. Hyaluronic acid treatment aims to reduce inflammation, pain, and stiffness so you can get back to a fuller life. Could this pain treatment work for you?
The pain and stiffness of frozen shoulder can be debilitating. Understanding the causes, risk factors, and treatments can help keep your symptoms to a minimum. Learn more about symptoms and possible treatments.
A stress fracture can keep you off your feet, but if you take care of it properly, you’ll be back to your usual activities before too long. Other factors, such as the location of your injury, can make a difference, too.
Do you know the signs of a knee infection? Could you have one now? Knee infections are a serious matter that can be treated successfully with prompt care. If you notice the signs, don’t ignore them.
If you’ve noticed pain in your hips as years go on, you’re far from alone. Chronic conditions that involve bone changes, lifestyle changes, or overuse of your joints can lead to common hip problems.