What do you know about Greater Trochanter Pain Syndrome?

If you have been reading our "Peek in our Week" posts that we post on Sunday afternoons then you know that I have been diligently following the Goofy Challenge training plan since it started back in July. It's a fairly easy plan and only calls for three runs a week, 2 short runs and a long run.  So far I've been able to handle this with little IT Band flare ups. However, my hips have been the source of my pain for a while now. 

Fortunately the hip pain does not impact my running as much as it impacts my day to day movement.  I am really sore each time I stand up after sitting down, and I am very sore each morning after a night's sleep.  But hey, this is better than IT Band syndrome, right?  I've been doing the stretches and I have even got the cortisone shots on both sides.

Well yesterday I went back to the doctor for more cortisone shots. Not only did my doctor say I was running too much, it was also determined that I  could possibly have Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.  Which is basically bursitis in the outer thigh ( Greater Trochanter muscle) due to the bursae being inflamed.  If you've never heard of a bursae, it is a fluid filled sac which allows for smooth movement between two uneven surfaces ( bones). Repetitive movement ( like running) can cause it to become inflamed.

IT band pain
               After every run I make sure to stretch out on the playground equipment. This is a good move for IT Band pain and the Greater Trochanter muscle.

Here are a few facts I've found about Greater Trochanteric pain Syndrome:

It often occurs in people age 50 or older.
It can occur in younger people, especially runners.
It effects women more often then men.

Just like with most any running injury treatments can include:

Reduce activity
Rest
Ice
Anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen
Improve flexibility  ( lots of stretching)
Weight loss ( if you are over weight)

So after working really hard to get all my training runs in, I've come to realize that it is better to listen to your body then to always follow the training plan. So what if I miss one 45 minute run, I would rather have that extra day of rest if I feel I need it. Kristy from Runaway Bridal planner wrote a nice article yesterday about Runner Common Sense.  I'm going to take her advice!


Have you ever had pain in this area? How did you handle it?   -M


45 comments:

  1. Ugh, I have never had this, but I did have heel bursitis last year and it took quite a while to heal and it was pretty painful. (remember how I cut my shoes so the heel of my shoe wouldn't touch it?) I hope the stretches are helping and that it heals soon!

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    1. I certainly do remember that. I hope your training goes better this time around!

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  2. I have heard of this, and I am sorry that you are having to deal with it. I hope that it gets better quickly!

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  3. I do get pain in the outer portion of my thigh after long runs. I usually just rest the area and foam roll. The pain goes away after foam rolling and a day of rest. I hope that the pani gets better soon for you and you are able to return to training.

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    1. I've been very diligent with my foam roller but it doesn't seem to be helping so far.

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  4. Bummer...I am so sorry you're now dealing with another area of pain. I agree though - ITBand stuff can wipe out racing altogether. I think you're doing the smart thing by listening to your body. Hope your hips feel better soon! I will have to look into this Goofy training plan next time around...sounds like one that my knee would cooperate with!

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    1. I am glad to be rid of the IT Band pain ( hopefully). Luckily the hip pain doesn't impact my running as much!

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  5. ouch! Good idea to take a few days off. I've gotten better about that myself. It's better to miss a day than miss 3 months due to injury. Speedy recovery!

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    1. Yes, I think I'll just rest up for the race this weekend!

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  6. I've never heard of this before. I'm sorry you're dealing with it but your new approach sounds like a good one. I often have knee pain in one knee but not while running. It only makes itself felt when I'm going down stairs. I've just been thinking of it as the price of running but maybe that's not the case. Anyway, I'm definitely going to try to make more of an effort to listen to my body after reading your post and Kristy's post.

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  7. Oh my goodness! It seems like there are so many things that can go wrong. I hope you're feeling better!

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    1. Thank you Allyson! It seems like it's always something!

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  8. Wow, how much we have in common when it comes to injuries. Last February I had a lot of issues with my hamstring/hip. After not training very much through the spring and early summer, I finally broke down to see my doctor. He said that not only do I have a bad hamstring pull, but a bit of bursitis along with it. While I don't have a lot of pain running or biking, I have a lot of pain afterward sitting all day at work. Stretching and moving have helped a lot and has gotten to the point where I have had work order me a standing desk. Things seem better with the hip, but now my IT band is giving me issues. Will it never end? I just want one good training cycle for one race.
    @heatherlas

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    1. The IT pain was terrible but the hip pain doesn't seem to slow me down much so I should be okay to race this weekend!

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  9. I've never heard of this both those darn hips! Listen to your body and get to Goofy as healthy as possible.

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    1. I'm just hoping no other injuries arise from here on out!

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  10. Oh Lord, I'll probably end up with this next the way my body is falling apart....

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  11. As an avid runner for 25 years, I've had pain just about everywhere! My foam roller is my best friend and I roll on it just about every night--roll those IT bands and quads like crazy. I do yoga for stretching. I try to stay away from doctors (and I work with them as an NP)--except for my 2 foot fractures. They all tell me I run too much. And want to do steroid injections (which I'd be really cautious about...). I hope you heal quickly, and yes, cross training will help you a lot!

    ~Wendy at Taking the Long Way Home

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  12. Your sweet to offer the mention:) I think I told you a while back (maybe) I used to have really bursitis in my right hip, they think mine was caused from sitting too long at work in incorrect positions. (but mind was not IT band related.) It came on pretty quickly in 2011 and it was right before my NYC Marathon. I had no choice but to visit a Dr. and they gave me the cortizone shot and a few other current and longer release meds to get me through. I had several more marathons over the following weeks so it was a worry. The shot took away the initial pain, but I actually had to change a lot of things I did to get rid of it. From changing the way I sat in a chair (and get a different chair) during the day, and changing my stride (it was not easy, come to find out I actually favored my right leg just slightly when ran which was hard to break free of.) additionally I had to take a few more rest days each week, and I slept with a pillow in-between my legs to take the pressure off my hips at night while I slept. That in combination with a heat patch (those were my saving grace - I would wear spandex shorts and stick one of those sticky therma heat patches that last 7 hours on it, then put my regular shorts over it all. Of course I was an idiot at first who put it right on my skin during the NYC Marathon and when I tore it off at mile 13 I lost a layer of skin, LOL wasn't funny then, still have the scars:( so don't do that, if you use them stick them on a tight short:)
    Sorry for the long post, but I couldn't remember if I ever shared with you what I had to do to get rid of mine and in case it might help I thought I would mention it. I hope you can get through this quick! It took me a couple of months, but those heat patches were the key to keeping the aggrivation down both before, during and after a run/race.

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    1. Thank you for sharing your story. I always have a hard time determining if I should be using heat or ice

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  13. Oh no, I am sorry! I haven't heard about this before (most of my running problems are because of my calves) but I really hope it gets better, but listening to your body is ALWAYS the right thing to do!

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    1. I took several days off from running now so I hope it is helping!

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  14. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy HappyAugust 26, 2014 at 1:58 PM

    Sorry to hear this :( I always make sure I stretch after running. It's so important.

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  15. Oh no!! I hope you get better soon. Why does it seem like so many runner injuries are more common in women? Must be our wide hips or something. Kristy's post is right...runner common sense is very important to have!

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  16. I've had bursitis once in my hip and it was no joke, it is painful!! Luckily it went away with rest and I haven't had an issue since, but I know the pain you are dealing with. I hope it gets better soon!

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    1. Yes it is very painful. It hurts the worse when I sit down!

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  17. I've never heard of this so thanks for sharing - now I know what to look into if something like that happens to me. I'm glad you'll still be able to race this weekend!

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    1. I don't know if i'll be "racing", but I will be there on the course...haha ( hopefully)!

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  18. So sorry you are still dealing with an injury......I have never heard of this but of course we all know about bursitis. Meranda it is more important to be healthy and miss a bit of exercise than to do more damage. Hang in there.

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    1. Thank you! I was so worried about following that training plan to a "T". But perhaps the plan is just an outline and each of us has to adjust it as we see fit!

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  19. I had some weird undiagnosed hip problem a couple of years ago. The Dr, Ortho and PT never could figure out what it was and it eventually went away but I think it caused other problems because it changed my gait. So sorry you are having to deal with this, it is so frustrating. Best wishes for a speedy and COMPLETE recovery!

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    1. Thanks April. I went to Chiro, PT, and Ortho and no one could help me. It took my family Dr. to come to the diagnosis.

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  20. I always have problems with my hips, but never bursitis. I think my hips are just always super tight, but foam rolling and yoga helps alot!

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    1. I've been foam rolling lots lately! Perhaps I should do more yoga!

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  21. Bummer! It's never good when you learn about new muscles and what can go wrong with them! I hope you recover quickly.

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  22. I've heard of it, but never experienced it. Hope the rest helps and you recover quickly! Thanks for linking up.

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  23. This is the first time I have heard of this! Rest up and take care of you! Here's to speedy recovery!

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  24. I really appreciate you posting about this because I think I might have possible found the answer the the outer thigh pain I have been having for months and months! I'm going to go look into this now!

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