Trochanteric Bursitis (Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome) Treatment in Surprise, AZ
Lateral hip pain when injections, physical therapy, and rest have not given you lasting relief.
✓ Medicare & major plans accepted ✓ FDA-Cleared Therapy ✓ 15-Minute Visits
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A phone or in-person consult with our physician. We'll listen, walk you through whether this is a fit, and verify your insurance before treatment. Easy to start. No referral. No runaround.
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What Is Trochanteric Bursitis?
Trochanteric bursitis — also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) — causes pain on the outside of the hip over the greater trochanter, the bony prominence at the top of the femur. The condition involves inflammation of the trochanteric bursa and often the surrounding gluteal tendons (gluteus medius and minimus tendinopathy).
Symptoms include sharp or aching pain when walking, climbing stairs, lying on the affected side at night, or standing up from a seated position. It is one of the most common causes of chronic hip pain, especially in adults over 40.
How LDRT Treats Trochanteric Bursitis
LDRT delivers a low-dose anti-inflammatory effect directly to the trochanteric bursa and gluteal tendon insertions. By modulating the inflammatory cytokine cascade and macrophage activation, LDRT addresses the underlying biological driver of pain — not just the symptoms.
Published series and the DEGRO 2018 guidelines support LDRT for trochanteric bursitis with response rates consistent with the broader inflammatory musculoskeletal disease evidence base. Treatment is painless, requires no anesthesia, and has no recovery time.
Who Is a Candidate for LDRT?
- Lateral hip pain for 6+ months
- Tenderness when pressing on the bony prominence on the outside of the hip
- Pain at night when lying on the affected side
- Cortisone injections that wore off or stopped helping
- Physical therapy without lasting improvement
- You want to avoid hip bursa surgery
At Heelex Surprise, we treat the chronic inflammatory environment at the hip — so walking, sleeping on your side, and getting through the day stop being a calculation.
What to Expect
Your care begins with a one-on-one consultation where we examine the lateral hip, review imaging if available, and discuss your treatment history. If LDRT is right for you, treatment typically involves 6 to 8 weekday sessions. Each session is quick and painless. There are no needles, no anesthesia, and no activity restrictions between sessions. Many patients notice gradual improvements in walking tolerance and night pain in the weeks following their treatment course.
Working With Your Care Team
Your orthopedic or sports-medicine doctor knows your history and your options better than anyone, along with the physical therapist on your care team. We don't replace them, and we wouldn't want to. We're a resource for them — for patients who have worked through the usual steps and want a non-surgical, drug-free option before considering surgery. You stay in their care: we treat only what's referred, keep your doctors informed, and refer you back to them. We're not here to take anyone's patients.
Scientific references
Niewald M, Holtmann H, Prokein B, et al. (2008). Multicenter prospective study on radiotherapy for painful coxarthrosis and trochanteric bursitis. Strahlentherapie und Onkologie.
Open on PubMedHautmann MG, Jung EM, Beyer LP, et al. (2014). Trochanteric pain syndrome treated with radiotherapy. Strahlentherapie und Onkologie.
Open on PubMed
Frequently Asked Questions: Trochanteric Bursitis & LDRT
Is radiation therapy safe for hip bursitis? +
Yes. The dose is roughly 10 to 25 times lower than the dose used to treat cancer and is targeted to only the affected hip. Decades of use in Europe have not shown an increased cancer risk at these low doses, and side effects are rare — occasionally mild, temporary skin redness.
Does low-dose radiation therapy work for trochanteric bursitis? +
It is aimed at patients whose hip bursitis pain persists despite anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, or injections. LDRT calms the inflammation in the bursa on the outside of the hip, and published series report meaningful pain relief in the majority of treated patients. Individual results vary.
My hip bursitis keeps coming back after cortisone shots — what now? +
That is exactly who LDRT is for. When injections and therapy keep wearing off, low-dose radiation therapy targets the underlying inflammation — a non-surgical, drug-free option that doesn't rule out anything else you might try.
Do I need a referral? +
No. You can call us directly. If you have an orthopedic surgeon, primary care physician, or rheumatologist, we coordinate with them.
Does it hurt? +
No. You feel nothing during treatment. No needle, no injection, no anesthesia.
Are there side effects? +
Rare. Some patients notice mild, temporary skin redness. No systemic side effects.
Will it cause cancer? +
The dose used for benign conditions is 10 to 25 times lower than the dose used to treat cancer. Long-term studies in Germany — where LDRT has been used for decades — have not shown an increased cancer risk at these low doses. We do not treat patients under 40 except in specific circumstances.
How quickly will I feel better? +
Most patients begin noticing relief between 6 and 12 weeks after their final session. About 70% report meaningful improvement.
How long does relief last? +
Typically 12 to 24 months. A second course can be given if symptoms return.
What if it doesn't work for me? +
Most patients respond well — and if your consultation shows you're not a strong candidate, we'll tell you up front, before you've spent a dime. LDRT also never closes any doors: every other option, including surgery, stays open to you.
Is it covered by insurance? +
Most major insurance is accepted, including Medicare and major commercial plans. Our office handles all insurance pre-authorization.
How many sessions will I need? +
Most benign musculoskeletal conditions require 6 to 8 weekday sessions, scheduled on consecutive business days so you complete a full course in under two weeks. Each session takes about 15 minutes. Some skin and fibrotic conditions follow different protocols — your consultation will clarify what fits your situation.
Is Low-Dose Radiation Therapy safe?
The dose used for benign conditions is a small fraction of cancer-treatment radiation — roughly 10–25× lower — delivered in a few short sessions. Low-dose radiation therapy for benign disease has decades of clinical use, and side effects are uncommon and typically mild.
Every treatment plan is prepared by a board-certified medical physicist and reviewed by a licensed physician. Whether it's the right option for you — and any personal considerations — is decided together during your consultation.