Acupuncture for hip pain

08-20-2022

I'm older and have developed bursitis (inflammation of the bursa in my hips.) Steroid injections in the hips have only provided temp relief but I am scheduled to get ultrasound-guided inections in ten days or so -- the more accurate placement of the steroid should provide longer-lasting relief. I'm also doing physical therapy, which is strengthening my legs and hips and helping gradually reduce the pain level. Progress is slow but sure.

Two days ago I had an initial appointment with an acupuncture clinic in town. The doc has studied in China and has 20 years of experience, so seems well-qualified.

Anyway, the first session (of scheduled weekly ten) was interesting. I'd not had acupuncture before. The needles are ultra fine (think diameter of a hair) and do not hurt. The routine is for the doc to place the needles (in my case, in my hips and back) and then leave me alone for 20 minutes, then return and remove the needles. No immediate relief noted, though the doc says this should help with the ongoing physical therapy. I'm hopeful I will see relief over the medium/long term.

Unfortunately, not covered by insurance (Medicare) in my case.

02-09-2025

Revisiting this topic for the benefit of any readers, I think I have to admit that acupuncture did not provide much relief. It's been several years, but I think I ended up spending the better part of a thousand dollars without much result.

I suspect acupuncture can work well for some scenarios, but it did not work particularly well for me to reduce hip pain.

02-09-2025

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02-09-2025

Llarry wrote
Revisiting this topic for the benefit of any readers, I think I have to admit that acupuncture did not provide much relief. It's been several years, but I think I ended up spending the better part of a thousand dollars without much result.

I suspect acupuncture can work well for some scenarios, but it did not work particularly well for me to reduce hip pain.

What are your exercise regimen and weight (BMI) status?

02-09-2025

Been having same issues as you mentioned. I took a look at my shoes and tried that method. My left leg is 3/8" longer thn my right so that causes unique gait plus I L4/L5 disc issues. Things as a 20 yr old you'd never think they would bother you. Till that age....mine was 56 and then things have been a bit slower or a bit planned out.

I have gotten my bmi lower but not gained back muscle yet that is difficult. Better shoes have kept me more in line than be jabbed or prodded by a Dr. Now to just get shoulder surgery or not. I'd rather not be out of work for 6-10 months.

02-09-2025

chassis wrote
What are your exercise regimen and weight (BMI) status?

****THIS.

02-09-2025

***The bursitis and other such issues can happen for a variety of reasons.

Often, excess weight is a factor, but also lumbo pelvic hip issues related to a lack of tonicity and loss of function/strength in several important muscles like the glutes (esp the glute medius and minimus) as well as the deep six pelvic muscles (obturators, and gemellus muscles, quadratus femoris, etc..)

Functional or anatomical leg length issues can also be related or causative, along with degenerative changes in the hip due to FAI (Femoral acetabular impingement syndrome - of which there are three main types..)

Issues related to poor balance, and motor control of the hips all the way down to issues in the feet (final link in kinetic chain) can greatly affect the health and longevity of the hips, the knees, the back, etc...

Postural issues, etc... LOTS of things can cause or exacerbate a hip bursitis issue and a decent orthopedist, movement person can do the appropriate scans and rule out or confirm arthritis or degenerative changes and then do the correct testing for range of motion, strength, alignment and proper neuro muscular movement patterns.

Anyway, it is complicated and acupuncture or other similar modalities often do not address the root cause of the problem and only treat the symptoms.

But yea, excessive BMI (greater than 25) and exercise habits plus postural issues are often causative or contributive to the issues the original poster indicated they have.

02-09-2025

M-technik-3 wrote
Been having same issues as you mentioned. I took a look at my shoes and tried that method. My left leg is 3/8" longer thn my right so that causes unique gait plus I L4/L5 disc issues. Things as a 20 yr old you'd never think they would bother you. Till that age....mine was 56 and then things have been a bit slower or a bit planned out.

I have gotten my bmi lower but not gained back muscle yet that is difficult. Better shoes have kept me more in line than be jabbed or prodded by a Dr. Now to just get shoulder surgery or not. I'd rather not be out of work for 6-10 months.

****Yes, it is like the alignment in a car - if it is off, it will contribute to greater wear and tear on tires and potentially other components.

A leg length discrepancy will affect the entire kinetic chain. Orthotics, and some flexibility and proper strength work can somewhat address other issues related to the altered locomotor gait issue and its affect on other structures.

Some people with significant leg length discrepancies compensate more significantly for it than others but the bottom line is unequal leg lengths is less than optimal, and can greatly increase wear and tear on other structures.

02-09-2025

I have had a couple of minor orthopedic complaints (knee, shoulder, lumbar, hips) over the years. Over the past 12 months I have lost a little weight (didn't have much to lose in the first place) and have added strenuous cycling in the summer and swimming in the winter.

Swimming in particular has helped all of the complaints the most. Kicking and pushing off the wall (knees and hips) and front crawl/freestyle (lumbar, shoulders) have helped alot. I am more limber and ache-free than I have been in 15 years.

And the cardio benefit from cycling and swimming has more than replaced the benefit I enjoyed from running. I stopped running a few years ago because of undiagnosed mild-moderate hip bursitis that wouldn't heal and wasn't helped by rest or changes in technique/form.

02-11-2025

From my experience with injuries, going to a good orthopedic who can provide specific stretches is almost always the answer.

Secondly, to keep things in order after the pain subsides - Kettlebell swings, traditional 2 arm and 1 arm I find are fantastic for evening out the 2 sides of the body. Possibly yoga, definitely swimming, and for sure buy a good tens unit, because they feel amazing and can help alot.

02-15-2025

I'll just speak to why I feel acupuncture can work for some things and not others.
I look at it just like aerating your lawn. The needles are creating a pathways for blood (and the nutrients it carries) to get through muscle fibers that have become so tight/dense/malnourished blood can't get to them. It's not going to fix any bone or joint issues. But things like tight muscles or muscles that are pulling you out of alignment it may help with. If that's correct or not I don't know. But it's what makes sense to me.

I had it done to my shoulder years ago. Had a knot around my shoulder blade that I just couldn't stretch out on my own. Few trips and being a pincushion later and it's been fine ever since. For my situation it's worked. I only had to pay and extra $5 to have the chiropractor stick me. So wasn't really out anything trying it.

I think for the most part massage is similar to acupuncture in that it's allowing blood to get in and heal to places it couldn't. Muscle fibers need to be loosened to allow healing.

02-15-2025

Acupuncture can help in some cases, but isn't a panacea.

Trochanteric bursitis can be stubborn, and often stems from chronic asymmetry somewhere (spine, hip, legs). This is, of course, interlinked to areas of weakness and tightness; and, compounded with a higher BMI.

Though it might not alter your treatment plan, MRI might reveal problems (e.g. tears) of the gluteal muscles and surrounding soft tissues.

Your foundation is to work closely with PT. It sounds like that was pursued. Consider a "second opinion" with another PT - you might have better results. You have to put in the effort at home regularly. I like the Myrtl Routine and monster walks at home.

Though the evidence isn't a amazing, consider PRP injections and shock wave (ESWT) therapy. Also, dry needling (with your PT) as an alternative to acupuncture.

Topical diclofenac (Voltaren gel, OTC) or a prescription compounding cream can be very helpful for symptom relief.

Finally, I'll assume your physician has diagnosed this correctly. However, this condition can often be a secondary phenomenon of the hip joint itself or lumbar spine. If the former, a simple fluoroscopically or ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection into the hip joint (not the more superficial bursa) might be what you need.

03-22-2025

I never tried acupuncture. I can’t see how that would have helped me. A few years ago, I was suffering from osteoarthritis in both hips. I was bad to the point where I hardly could walk even with a cane.

I was always fit and trim; rode bicycles for many years. I tried shots, but they didn’t last long. What really worked was total hip replacements (both sides). The relief was immediate. My pain level when from 8-9 to 1 the same day as the operation.

I remain pain free (3 years since the surgery on the left side). There isn’t anything I can’t do that I was able to do prior to the surgeries. Best thing I could have done and wished I hadn’t waited as long as I did.

See an orthopedic surgeon and get opinions on whether something like that could help.

03-23-2025

I have had dry needling done on my left shoulder, and it did offer relief. I then developed Planter Fasciitis while on a long run training for a half-marathon. I was also getting tightness in my hips. My PT determined I had imbalanced Gluteus Medius and TFL, and was weaker on the left side. We did 3 dry needling sessions and of course, PT. I did PT on my own in addition to my regular strength training. One month later I ran the 13.1 miles pain free with no tightness.

I don't know if dry needling is indicated for bursitis, but IMO, it is worth looking into.

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Acupuncture for hip pain