Bursitis Treatment and Prevention

Understand Joint Pain Cause and Cures

Bursitis is a common cause of pain, swelling and redness in the joints, most commonly in the shoulder. It is the inflammation of small, fluid-filled sacs, which normally work to cushion the joint and protect against injury. There are 160 bursae in the body, near the bone and muscle attachments inside the hip, shoulder, knee, toe and elbow joints.

Bursitis can be chronic or acute. In acute bursitis, the pain comes quickly and the affected joint may swell, appear red or become hot to the touch. Chronic bursitis appears in the same way, but recurs over several weeks or months.

Who is at Risk of Developing Bursitis?

Different types of bursitis have different causes. Men and women whose jobs or hobbies require repetitive movements are most at risk, as well as those with rheumatoid arthritis, gout or other inflammatory joint conditions.

There are 4 common ways to develop bursitis:

• Overusing the joint - Repetitive motions or constant pressure on the joint can cause inflammation in the bursa. One example of this type of bursitis, nicknamed "Housemaid's Knee," is a painful condition caused by kneeling.
• Infection - Bacteria in the synovial fluid inside the bursa can cause an infection.
• Injury - Trauma or injury can cause bruising deep into the joint and lead to bursitis. This type of bursitis usually requires no treatment and heals alongside the injury.
• Inflammatory Arthritic Disease - When disease occurs within the joint, bursitis can become a secondary complication.

There are a number of ways to prevent bursitis. Try to avoid repetitive movements in the shoulder, knee and hip joints. Wear protective knee padding when kneeling during cleaning or gardening. Take care when working or playing sports to avoid injury or strain.

Even with preventative measures in place, bursitis can occur in people of any age.

How is Bursitis Diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing bursitis is to visit a doctor. If the patient is experiencing pain (especially with certain movements), swelling, redness, or a feeling of heat within the joint, the doctor may want to rule out other causes first.

Muscle injury, cellulites, internal bleeding within the joint and joint injury can all cause similar symptoms and must be ruled out. Patients concerned about rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis, especially if they are experiencing other symptoms, can ask the doctor to test for these conditions.

X-ray is only effective in diagnosing bursitis if the condition has caused calcium-based crystals to form in the bursa.

What are the Different Bursitis Treatment Options?

Discuss treatment options with a doctor. The way it is treated depends on which joint is affected and how the condition started.

Bursitis free of bacterial infection (aseptic) is usually the easiest to treat. Rest the joint by avoiding the types of movements that caused the inflammation. Ice packs and anti-inflammatory medications like ASA can help reduce swelling and relieve pain.

If the inflammation persists, speak to a doctor about aspiration or injections. In aspiration, the doctor will remove fluid from the infected bursa using a sterile needle. They may also inject a corticosteroid to quickly reduce the swelling.

If the doctor finds that the bursitis is caused by bacterial infection (septic bursitis), they may use antibiotic treatments, needle aspiration or surgery to treat the problem and prevent it from recurring.

Prevent Chronic Bursitis

To prevent recurring bursitis inflammation, follow the measures described above. Also, allow adequate time to heal. Speak to a doctor about physiotherapy exercises to do at home to strengthen the joints and prevent future flare-ups. It is important to stay active and keep joints strong during healing.