Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
Quick summary
Outer hip pain that keeps you awake. Ultrasound-guided injections and rehab in Oxford for gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis.
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) covers gluteal tendinopathy, trochanteric bursitis and iliotibial band pathology. It is one of the most common causes of lateral hip pain, especially in women aged 40–60.
Key takeaways
- Outer hip pain that keeps you awake. Ultrasound-guided injections and rehab in Oxford for gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis.
- Diagnosed with in-clinic ultrasound alongside clinical examination.
- Treated with a stepped, evidence-based plan — not one-size-fits-all injections.
- Self-referral available — no GP letter required.
Symptoms
- Pain on the outside of the hip, worse lying on that side
- Discomfort after prolonged sitting or crossing legs
- Pain climbing stairs or after long walks
- Tenderness pressing over the bony point of the hip
Causes & risk factors
- Gluteus medius / minimus tendinopathy
- Muscle deconditioning after inactivity
- Leg-length discrepancy or altered biomechanics
- Increased load — new running programme, weight change
Who is most at risk
- Women over 40
- Longer distance walking or running
- Leg-length discrepancy
- Coexistent low back or hip pathology
Differential diagnosis
Conditions that can mimic Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.
- Gluteal tendinopathy (often coexists)
- Hip osteoarthritis (deeper groin pain)
- Lumbar referred pain (L4/L5)
- Meralgia paraesthetica
How we diagnose Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
Ultrasound reliably differentiates tendinopathy, partial tears and bursal fluid — critical because management differs. A calcaneal-style Doppler assessment adds prognostic information.
Treatment options
Ultrasound-guided bursal injection
For symptomatic bursitis or where sleep is disturbed. Combined with rehab, not as a stand-alone.
Gluteal tendinopathy rehab
Progressive isometric then heavy slow resistance loading of the abductor complex — evidence-based first-line.
Shockwave therapy
For chronic gluteal tendinopathy not responding to loading alone.
PRP
Selective use in refractory tendinopathy with partial tears on imaging.
What we look for on ultrasound
Loss of tendon fibrillar echotexture, hypoechoic swelling of gluteus medius insertion, bursal fluid deep to iliotibial band, cortical irregularity of the greater trochanter.
When to seek help
Book if you can't sleep on the affected side, pain persists beyond 6 weeks, or previous injections have failed — imaging changes management.
Recovery timeline
Typical timeframes after diagnosis and treatment. Individual recovery varies — your clinician will personalise this plan.
- 1Week 0–1Post-injection
Rapid pain relief; avoid lying on the affected side for a few nights.
- 2Week 1–6Rehab
Hip abductor loading, gait correction, avoid crossing legs.
- 3Month 2–3Return to activity
Return to running with graduated mileage.
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Related conditions we treat
Explore other musculoskeletal conditions assessed and treated at the clinic.
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Hip Osteoarthritis
- Knee Osteoarthritis
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylalgia)
- Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylalgia)
- Trigger Finger
- Thumb Base (CMC) Arthritis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles Tendinopathy
Related symptom guides
Patient-friendly guides that describe how hip problems typically present.
- Pain on the Outside of the Hip — Causes & TreatmentPain over the outer hip, worse lying on that side, is usually gluteal tendinopathy or trochanteric bursitis. Learn how it's diagnosed and treated.
- Burning Pain on the Outer Thigh — Causes & ReliefBurning or tingling on the outer thigh often points to meralgia paresthetica (a trapped nerve) or greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Learn how each is diagnosed and treated.
- Groin Pain from the Hip — Causes & TreatmentDeep groin pain aggravated by walking, twisting or getting into a car often reflects hip joint pathology — arthritis, labral tears or impingement. Learn how each is diagnosed and treated.
Related treatments
Ultrasound-guided procedures we use to treat musculoskeletal conditions.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome assessment & treatment across Oxfordshire
We treat greater trochanteric pain syndrome patients from across Oxfordshire and the surrounding counties. Two hours of free parking is available directly at the clinic in Botley, OX2.
How we make treatment decisions
Every recommendation at Oxford Injection Clinic is shaped by current UK guidance — including NICE recommendations for musculoskeletal pain, published NHS guidance on injection therapy, and peer-reviewed evidence from British and international MSK medicine journals. We follow a stepped-care model: accurate diagnosis first (clinical examination and diagnostic ultrasound), conservative measures where appropriate, and image-guided injection or referral only when clinically indicated. Consultant physiotherapist Bob Chandran reviews the latest MSK literature and updates our clinical protocols routinely.
Further reading
Recognised UK and international clinical guidance relevant to Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome.
Frequently asked questions
Should I keep exercising?
Yes. Reduce provocative loading (crossing legs, side-lying) but continue graded strengthening — rest alone rarely resolves tendinopathy.
Are repeated cortisone injections safe?
We limit steroid to a maximum of 2–3 per site per year and prefer to combine with structured rehab.
Book a consultation for greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Consultant physiotherapist Bob Chandran (Boobala Chandran Subramanian) leads every clinic. Self-refer today.
Getting here
Easy to reach — and easy to park
We're in Elms Parade, Botley, just a few minutes from Oxford city centre with excellent transport links.
Free parking
2 hours free, right outside
Park directly in front of the clinic in the Elms Parade car park — 2 hours free for patients, no app or ticket needed for short visits.
From Oxford Railway Station
Approx. 1.5 miles (8 min by taxi, 20 min walk). Head west on Botley Road, continue straight across the A34 flyover into Westway, then turn right into Elms Parade.
Nearest bus stop
Elms Parade (Stop B1) — directly outside the clinic. Served by routes 4, 4A, 4B and 4C from Oxford city centre (every 10–15 min).
By car
Junction 8/9 of the A34, exit toward Botley. Postcode OX2 9LG for sat-nav.
Expert MSK care in Oxford
Oxford Injection Clinic is the specialist musculoskeletal service of GB Clinic Oxford, an independent physiotherapy and interventional MSK clinic based in Botley. Our consultants and advanced practitioners assess, scan and treat the full spectrum of joint, tendon, ligament and nerve problems — from acute sports injuries to long-standing arthritis. Every clinician is HCPC-registered and holds post-graduate qualifications in diagnostic ultrasound, injection therapy or advanced musculoskeletal practice.
We believe the fastest route to recovery is an accurate diagnosis on day one. That is why every consultation includes a full history, a hands-on clinical examination and, where useful, a real-time high-resolution ultrasound scan. If an ultrasound-guided injection is likely to help, we can usually perform it in the same visit — no separate trips, no waiting weeks for imaging.
Evidence-based, patient-led
Not everyone needs an injection. Our clinicians follow NICE, BOA and international best-practice guidance to decide when injections, shockwave therapy, hydrodilatation, barbotage or a structured loading programme is the right next step. Where surgery is genuinely the best option we say so, and we can refer to trusted orthopaedic and pain specialists across Oxford, London and the Thames Valley.
Patients travel to see us from Botley, Summertown, Headington, Cowley, Iffley, Abingdon, Witney, Kidlington, Bicester, Didcot, Wallingford, Wantage, Wheatley, Thame, Woodstock, Chipping Norton, Banbury, Henley-on-Thames and Reading. Same-day appointments, evening slots and Saturday clinics are usually available, and free on-street parking is right outside the clinic.