Bursitis Or Sciatica?

[Vagus]

For some months I have been experiencing an aching right leg during the night when I lay on my right side, which is my preferred side to sleep on.
It rarely bothers me during the day.
The ache sometimes seems to originate from my hip and sometimes from the back of my buttock, and travels down the whole leg to the ankle.

[Sqad]

Bursitis.
Ibuprofen 400mgms last thing at night.

[Vagus]

Thank you for answering Sqad.
Will it sort itself out do you think, over time and Ibruprofen? Or will I need to see someone about it?
Would sciatica present in a different way?

[Buenchico]

Sciatica is usually characterised by sharp pain, rather than by an ache.

This page, from the NHS website, indicates when you might need to see a GP about bursitis (and what he/she might then do about it):
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bursitis/

[Sqad]

Well Vagus you have the obligatory NHS website afore you, but i will add a few supplementary words.
It is often quite difficult to differentiate between trochanteric bursitis and sciatica and your description of the pain radiating down the back of your thigh, could be typical of both.
Why has my money gone on Bursitis? Listen to the patient and in 80% of cases they will provide the diagnosis and you have done it eloquently.
You describe the pain as bad in the night, but rarely bothers you during the day. That is uncommon with sciatica which is bothersome all the time, but particularly during the day, whereas bursitis is worse at night but eases or may be absent during the day.
Also lying on it at night, making it worse is more typical of bursitis.
Continue the Nsaid of your choice for at least 2 weeks and if there is no improvement, then see your GP.

[Vagus]

Thank you both, especially Sqad for an easy to understand explanation of the difference.