Trochanteric Bursitus of hip

I'm hoping someone out there can help, as I know there are some medical people who post on here.

I currently have trochanteric bursitus of the hip, which is pretty painful and stopping me from swinging. It started last year when I came off a bike. I had some physio, and was controlling the inflamation and therefore the pain with ibruprofen (orally).
However I have started to have acid reflux problems due to the ibuprofen, so have had to stop taking it. I have spoken to my GP and he says it is normal to have pain this long after the fall, and won't refer me to physio or anywhere - I need referal to either get free treatment or my insurance to pay.

I realise the long term solution is stretching and strengthening. I have been stretching my IT band, hip flexors, lower back and hamstrings and strengthening my glutes, abs and quads specifically for this (I do other general strength and flexibility training). However I am now in a vicious circle as the pain and inflammation makes it hard to stretch and exercise, but I need to do this to stop the pain and inflammation.

I am tempted to try ibuprofen gels, or pay to get a cortisone injection. Does anyone have any opinions on this, or good advice?

Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any help.

All I can offer here is my experience.

I found out that I have rotary scoliosis 33 years ago. I found that I had a leg-length difference of almost 3/4 inch then and my surgeon then told me that surgery was not an option.

Its been years since I've been to an orthopedic surgeon. Last month I experienced pain in my left hip (my short side)...it started out a a dull pain and in the mornings I would get up and I would be stiff. Went to my GP, found that I had hip bursitis and was given a cortisone shot which relieved the pain immediately....since then I haven't experienced any pain in my left hip. My GP said that I didn't need to go to an OS (orthopedic surgeon) unless I need surgery. He also said that I need to get heel lifts and can easily get them in the stores and that if I had any more probs that he's prescribe physical therapy. I've been searching at all the local stores and can only find heel cushions, which I've been reading, are not the same as heel lifts. After much researching, I found that heel lifts are only available via prescription, so I quickly made an appt with an OS. Currently, I'm wearing heel cushion temporarily until I could see the OS and still wear them (in my street shoes as well as my golf shoes) until I get the lift.

I started golfing 4 years ago and I suspect that all this weight shifting in my downswing (from my long side to my short side) is what caused my hip bursitis in my left hip. Anyways, last week I had an appt with an OS and not only did he xray my spine, but my hip as well to make certain that I didn't have arthritis in my hips. He also measured the two curvatures of my spine and gave me two prescriptions....one for physical therapy for learning stretching exercises for my back and hips. The other for a toe/heel lift in my left shoe. I'm hoping that the shoe lift will work so that I don't have to build up all the soles of my left shoes. I'm so relieved I went to an OS.....I found one that listens to my concerns and understands my desire to continue playing golf and walking. I go back for a check-up in a month.

I can only speak of my experience with bursitis in my shoulder. I saw a GP, who referred me to an orthapedic, who told me that I had a beaked chromium, and that was what was irritating the bursa, but that there was a PT who he had used who had saved many people from getting surgery for this sort of thing. The PT told me not to bother with NSAIDS and that I really needed to build up some specific muscles around the joint to keep things in place and keep the bursa from getting irritated. There was also stretching to break up the adhesions as woodzie was saying. He started me on a PT regiment of some really odd feeling exercises, but after about 6 sessions I was mostly pain free. Most importantly he taught me the exercises so that I could do them myself at home or the gym, mostly with the exercise bands. Now if I get a flare up I know exactly what to do, and a few days of doing the PT myself and I am good to go.

PT is one of the cheapest aspects of medicine, but maybe the most important, and I would pay for it out of pocket if I needed to, presuming I can get a good therapist.

I spent the last two months with degrees of hip pain. It would flare up and then subside. I exercise at least five days a week in the gym (I do mostly cycling in spring, summer, fall seasons). Finally saw doctor last Tuesday and he diagnosed same problem as you. He gave me the cortisone shot, showed me proper stretching, told me to ice after every exercise session and use ibuprofen only as needed. I did the recumbent bike for a couple of days after that (then took the rest of the week off) and actually played 9 holes last Thursday. I have been in the gym the last two days and although they haven't been the most intense of workouts (I ran about two miles on the mill both days with two miles of walking and a little weight lifting) I am in no discomfort at all this a.m. I would get the cortisone shot. My Dr. told me this is not like getting a shot in the joint where you can only do it X amount of times in your life. You can shoot this problem several times if need be. I plan on hitting the links today!