Bursitis: Types, treatment, and symptoms (original) (raw)

Bursitis is a painful condition affecting the joints. It occurs when fluid-filled sacs called bursae become inflamed. People can prevent it by taking breaks during repetitive tasks and warming up before exercise.

There are more than 150 bursae in the human body. They cushion and lubricate points between the bones, tendons, and muscles near the joints.

When a person has bursitis, these bursae become inflamed, making movement or pressure on the area painful.

In this article, we detail the parts of the body in which a person may experience bursitis, the symptoms of the condition, and how to treat it.

People with bursitis will feel pain at the site of inflammation.

Any bursa can become affected, but the areas where bursitis most commonly occurs are the:

People may refer to specific forms of bursitis by other names. Tennis elbow, clergyman’s knee, and housemaid’s knee are all common terms.

The treatment of bursitis will depend on the severity of a person’s symptoms.

Self-treatment

A person may be able to treat their bursitis at home with the help of over-the-counter (OTC) treatments and some self-care techniques.

Self-care usually involves:

Medical treatment

Although most cases of bursitis are treatable at home, a person with severe bursitis may require prescription medications.

Steroids

The doctor may inject steroids into the affected area to relieve the symptoms. Steroids block a chemical in the body called prostaglandin, which causes inflammation.

However, doctors should prescribe steroids with care. These drugs may raise blood pressure and increase the risk of getting an infection if a person uses them for too long.

In addition, by reducing a person’s symptoms, steroid injections may cause a delay in diagnosing other conditions associated with the bursae. This may result in doctors missing the optimal time frame for some surgical procedures.

Antibiotics

If a fluid test confirms a bacterial infection, the doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. They will generally recommend oral antibiotics, but a person may need to take them intravenously in more severe cases.

In rare instances, a person will require surgery to drain the affected bursa.

Septic bursitis occurs when an infection causes bursa inflammation. A person with septic bursitis may have the following additional symptoms:

When to see a doctor

Many people treat bursitis at home, but if the symptoms are more severe, they should seek medical help.

More severe symptoms include:

Bursitis can result from an injury, an infection, or a preexisting condition such as gout, which can cause crystals to form in a bursa.

Injury

Physical trauma can irritate the tissue inside the bursa and cause inflammation. This trauma may occur due to an impact injury or overuse of the joints, tendons, or muscles near the bursa. Overuse is typically the result of repetitive movements.

The cause of bursitis can determine the affected area of the body. Possible causes include:

Infection

Infectious bursitis tends to occur in bursae that are nearer the surface of the skin, such as those near the elbow. A cut on the skin is an opportunity for the bacteria to get in.

As with other forms of bursitis, repeated trauma and the overuse of joints near bursae are the most common causes of infectious bursitis. However, people with conditions that affect the immune system may have a higher risk of developing bursitis through an infection.

Health conditions

People with certain health conditions are more likely to have crystals form inside the bursa. The crystals irritate the bursa and make it swell. Conditions that may cause bursitis include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma.

A doctor will diagnose bursitis by examining the affected area and asking the person about any recent activities that may be causing joint stress.

If the individual has a high temperature, the doctor may take a small fluid sample from a bursa near the affected body part. They will send the sample to a lab, where technicians will test it for bacteria and, often, for crystal deposits.

If treatment is not effective, the doctor may carry out further tests to eliminate the possibility of a more serious condition.

These tests may include:

People can take several steps to help prevent bursitis. These include:

Bursitis occurs when a bursa, one of the fluid-filled sacs that protect joints, becomes inflamed. The elbows, knees, hips, and shoulders are the most common sites of bursitis.

A person may experience bursitis if they regularly place pressure on or repetitively move these joints. Common forms of bursitis include tennis elbow, which occurs as a result of bending the elbow repeatedly, and clergyman’s knee, where repeated kneeling results in trauma.

Impact injuries may also cause bursitis, and infections can lead to septic bursitis.

Most forms of bursitis will resolve with periods of rest. However, some people may require medication or even surgical intervention to remedy the symptoms.

People can help prevent bursitis by protecting vulnerable joints, taking breaks during repetitive tasks, and maintaining a moderate weight.