| A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction around | | | | the inflamed bursa. In this condition, the pain usually is |
| your joints. When the bursa becomes inflamed | | | | worse during and after activity, and then the bursa and |
| (swollen) because the fluid inside is infected or irritated | | | | the surrounding joint become stiff the next day. |
| by too much movement, this is called bursitis. It causes | | | | How is bursitis diagnosed? |
| pain, swelling and difficulty moving the affected joint. | | | | Bursitis is typically identified by localized pain or swelling, |
| When the condition called bursitis occurs, the normally | | | | tenderness, and pain with motion of the tissues in the |
| slippery bursa becomes swollen and inflamed. The | | | | affected area. X-ray testing can sometime detect |
| added bulk of the swollen bursa causes more friction | | | | calcifications in the bursa when bursitis has been |
| within an already confined space. Also, the smooth | | | | chronic or recurrent. |
| gliding bursa becomes gritty and rough. Movement of | | | | Treatment of Bursitis |
| an inflamed bursa is painful and irritating. | | | | Most patients with bursitis are treated conservatively |
| What Causes Bursitis? | | | | to reduce inflammation. Conservative treatment |
| This condition is most often caused by repetitive, minor | | | | includes rest, cold and heat treatments, elevation, |
| impact on the area, or from a sudden, more serious | | | | nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), bursal |
| injury. Age also plays a role. As tendons age they are | | | | aspiration, and intrabursal steroid injections (with or |
| able to tolerate stress less, are less elastic, and are | | | | without local anesthetic agents). |
| easier to tear. | | | | The heat is on. Putting heat on the joint when it is no |
| Acute: A direct blow (let's say you accidentally bang | | | | longer warm to the touch can reduce the pain. As with |
| your knee into a table) can cause blood to leak into the | | | | ice, don't apply heat for more than 20 minutes at a |
| bursa. This rapid collection usually causes marked pain | | | | time. |
| and swelling, most often in the knee. | | | | Elevation. Raising a joint that is swollen for any reason |
| Often there is an initial injury that sets off the process | | | | can help to reduce swelling. That goes for bursitis, too. |
| of inflammation. Thereafter, the problem can be | | | | If possible, elevate the affected joint so it is above the |
| self-exacerbating. Once there is an initial injury, the | | | | level of the heart. |
| tendons and bursa become inflamed. This inflammation | | | | Injection of a corticosteroid along with a local |
| causes a thickening of these structures. | | | | anesthetic may also be helpful in relieving symptoms of |
| Symptoms of Bursitis | | | | hip bursitis. This is a simple and effective treatment |
| A dull ache or stiffness in the area around your elbow, | | | | that can be done in the doctor's office. It involves a |
| hip, knee, shoulder, big toe or other joints | | | | single injection into the bursa. The injection typically |
| A worsening of pain with movement or pressure | | | | provides permanent relief. If pain and inflammation |
| Bursitis symptoms vary from local joint pain and | | | | return, another injection or two, given a few months |
| stiffness, to burning pain that surrounds the joint around | | | | apart, may be needed. |