i'm sorry to hear you're having pain problems with your hips. it sounds very unpleasant! to answer your question most infections in the body cause fever. in fact fever often is the first sign of an infection brewing somewhere. other signs and symptoms of infection anywhere in the body include an elevated white blood cell (wbc) count localized pain and foul-smelling drainage -- among other things. the bursae (plural of bursa) are leathery sacs located near the joints. these sacs produce fluid to lubricate the joints. an infected bursa probably would be diagnosed via aspiration in which a small needle is inserted into the bursa sac and fluid withdrawn. this fluid can be cultured to determine if it contains infection-causing bacteria. it's important to note that bursitis is not an infection per se. the suffix "-itis" means "inflamed. " thus "bursitis" simply means an inflamed bursa not necessarily an infected one. many things can cause a hip bursa to become inflamed including trauma (falling and tearing or injuring the bursa sac) and chronic irritation (such as sleeping on your side). bursitis can be difficult to cure. if you have reason to believe one of your hip bursae is infected please discuss your concerns with your pain management doctor. he can best address this issue and take appropriate steps. wishing you well!
how is an infection of the hip bursa detected? at what point should you be tested for it? . i am under the care of a pain management doctor. he is also treating me for hip bursitis with cortisone injections. this has been an ongoing issue for me since becoming strictly a "side sleeper" since spinal fusion surgery (12 years ago). both hips are involved. i also take both meloxicam and gabapentin along with pain medications prescribed by my doctor.