Have the patient lie on his side with the affected hip up. The legs should be flexed about 45 degrees. If palpation of the greater trochanter elicits tenderness, palpate other portions of the lateral hip and thigh to see if these areas are also tender. If they are, that is, if much of the lateral thigh is tender, you can not make a diagnosis of trochanteric bursitis. Screening for trochanteric bursitis.
Trochanteric bursitis is a common cause of lateral hip pain.
Firm palpation of the region of the greater trochanter elicits pain. Prepare the steroid. Use a 3-5 ml syringe and a long 22 needle. If you use a multidose vial of Xylocaine, a precipitate will occur in the syringe when it is mixed with the steroid. This is of little consequence except you have to remember to shake up the syringe just before injecting the solution so the steroid is evenly distributed throughout the material being injected.