PRP Injections for Hip Pain in Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Most “hip” pain is not the joint at all. It is the gluteal tendons on the outside of the hip or the hamstring tendon underneath, and both are tendon problems PRP was built for. When it is the joint, PRP can still help if the arthritis is caught early enough.
Hip PRP at a glance
Best evidence: gluteal tendinopathy (outer hip pain)
Typical course: 1 injection for tendons, 2 to 3 for arthritis
Downtime: walking the same day; no deep stretching for a week
Cost: $700 per injection, $500 for members
Hip problems PRP can help
Gluteal tendinopathy, also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome or “hip bursitis,” the outer hip ache that flares when you lie on that side or climb stairs. Proximal hamstring tendinopathy, the deep pain at the sit bone that makes driving and sitting miserable. Mild to moderate hip osteoarthritis. Adductor and groin tendon injuries in runners, skiers, and hockey and soccer players.
What the evidence says
For gluteal tendinopathy, a well-run randomized trial found a single ultrasound-guided PRP injection beat cortisone at three months and was still ahead two years later. Hamstring tendinopathy has smaller studies with a similar direction. For hip arthritis the picture is less clear than at the knee: PRP has performed about as well as hyaluronic acid, and works best when cartilage loss is mild. Advanced hip arthritis, labral tears with impingement, and stress fractures need other care, and the first visit is designed to catch them.
How Ridgeview approaches hip PRP
- Exam to separate tendon, joint, and back-referred pain, which overlap constantly at the hip
- Ultrasound of the gluteal tendons and bursa, or review of X-rays for joint wear
- Ultrasound guidance for every injection, essential at the hip because the targets sit deep under muscle
- Load management and glute strengthening, with specific guidance on sleeping position and stretching, which often make gluteal tendinopathy worse
- A frank timeline for surgery if the joint is beyond what an injection can do
Worth a conversation if
Outer hip pain that wakes you when you lie on that side
Deep buttock pain when sitting or driving
A “bursitis” cortisone shot that wore off in weeks
Early hip arthritis and a goal of staying active for years yet
Related conditions
What to expect from a hip PRP injection.
About an hour in the office. You walk in and walk out.
Before: pause anti-inflammatories as instructed and bring any hip X-rays or MRI.
Day of: blood draw, preparation, and an ultrasound-guided injection into the tendon or joint. Driving home is fine for most patients.
First week: a deep ache for several days. Walk normally, sleep on the other side, and skip deep stretching and long runs.
Weeks two to twelve: progressive glute and hamstring strengthening. Running rebuilds gradually from about week four.
Follow-up: exam and ultrasound to confirm the response and set the next step, if any.
Hip PRP questions
I was told I have hip bursitis. Is that what PRP treats?
Usually what gets called bursitis is actually a worn gluteal tendon, with the bursa irritated alongside it. That tendon is exactly what responds to PRP, which is part of why the cortisone shot into the bursa keeps wearing off.
Does PRP work as well for hip arthritis as it does for the knee?
Not quite. The knee has more and better studies. At the hip, PRP is a reasonable option for mild arthritis in someone who wants to stay active and delay replacement, and Dr. Kroner will be candid about the odds for your joint specifically.
Why does the hip need ultrasound guidance?
The gluteal tendons and the hip joint sit deep under layers of muscle. Studies of blind hip injections show they miss the target a large share of the time. Guidance is standard at Ridgeview, not an add-on.
Find out what is really driving your hip pain.
Exam, ultrasound, and a clear recommendation in one visit with Dr. Kroner. $250, waived for Ridgeview members. Serving Wheat Ridge and the west Denver metro.