Gluteal Bursitis is a painful condition in and around the buttocks.  Bursitis could be explained as an inflammation of the bursa which is a sac filled with fluid adjacent to the joints acting like a cushion for the joint.  A bursa is a sac that is filled with lubricating fluid situated between tissues like muscles, tendons, skin and bone that lessens irritation and friction between the tissues. The bursa causes pain when subjected to continual trauma resulting in swelling and inflammation.  Gluteal bursitis occurs when this bursa becomes injured such as with reptatitive injury, such as jumping, kicking or running.  Trauma to the area can also cause this problem.  Symptoms include pain and tenderness in the buttock.  This condition must be distinguished from pathology of the hip and spinal nerves.  In gluteal bursitis, the neurological exam will be normal.  X-rays of the hip may also be normal or may reveal calcification of the bursa.  MRI scans will be useful to exam the pathology of the hip and lumbar discs.  Treatment of gluteal bursitis begins with conservative therapy.  This includes, heat, ice, physical therapy and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications.  Injection into the bursa with a solution of a local anesthetic and a steroid will decrease inflammation, pain and allow physical therapy to be more effective.