Learn About Bursitis
Bursitis is the swelling and irritation of a bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between muscles, tendons, and bones.
Student's elbow; Olecranon bursitis; Housemaid's knee; Prepatellar bursitis; Weaver's bottom; Ischial gluteal bursitis; Baker's cyst; Gastrocnemius - semimembranosus bursa
Bursitis is often a result of overuse. It can also be caused by a change in activity level, such as training for a marathon, or by being overweight.
Other causes include trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or infection. Sometimes, the cause can't be found.
Bursitis commonly occurs in the shoulder, knee, elbow, and hip. Other areas that may be affected include the area around the Achilles tendon and the foot.
Symptoms of bursitis may include any of the following:
- Joint pain and tenderness when you press around the joint
- Stiffness and aching when you move the affected joint
- Swelling, warmth or redness over the joint
- Pain during movement and rest
- Pain may spread to the nearby areas
Your provider will talk to you about a treatment plan to help you resume your normal activities, including some of the following tips.
Tips to relieve bursitis pain:
- Use ice 3 to 4 times a day for the first 2 or 3 days.
- Cover the painful area with a towel, and place the ice on it for 15 minutes. Do not fall asleep while applying the ice. You can get frostbite if you leave it on too long.
- Rest the joint.
- When sleeping, do not lie on the side that has bursitis.
For bursitis around the hips, knees, or ankle:
- Try not to stand for long periods.
- Stand on a soft, cushioned surface, with equal weight on each leg.
- Placing a pillow between your knees when lying on your side can help decrease pain.
- Flat shoes that are cushioned and comfortable often help.
- If you are overweight, losing weight may also be helpful.
You should avoid activities that involve repetitive movements of any body part when possible.
Other treatments include:
- Medicines such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), (ibuprofen, naproxen)
- Physical therapy
- Wearing a brace or splint to support the joint and help reduce inflammation
- Exercises you do at home to build strength and keep the joint mobile as pain goes away
- Removing fluid from the bursa and getting a corticosteroid shot
As the pain goes away, your provider may suggest exercises to build strength and keep mobility of movement in the painful area.
In rare cases, surgery is done.
Aligned Orthopedic Partners
Edward Bieber is an Orthopedics specialist and a Sports Medicine provider in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Bieber is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bursitis. His top areas of expertise are Synovitis, Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, and Trigger Thumb.
Summit Orthopedics
Sarah Lehnert, M.D., C.A.Q., is an orthopedic sports medicine physician at Summit Orthopedics specializing in nonsurgical treatment of knee, shoulder, hip, foot, and ankle concerns. She has a special interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound and guided injections, and serves patients in Minneapolis/St. Paul. She completed her fellowship in primary care sports medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center, and earned a certificate of added qualification. She understands the unique needs of patients and has served on medical teams for events including the USA World Cup Youth Soccer tournament, Twin Cities Marathon, and Minnesota State High School League tournaments, in addition to being a team physician for college and high school teams. Dr. Lehnert is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bursitis. Her top areas of expertise are Frozen Shoulder, Bursitis, Tendinitis, and Osteoarthritis.
Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates Inc.
Loel Payne is an Orthopedics provider in Hampton, Virginia. Dr. Payne is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bursitis. His top areas of expertise are Bursitis, Osteoarthritis, Tenosynovitis, Knee Replacement, and Shoulder Arthroscopy. Dr. Payne is currently accepting new patients.
Most people do well with treatment. When the cause cannot be corrected, you may have long-term pain.
If the bursa is infected, it becomes more inflamed and painful. This often requires antibiotics or surgery.
Contact your provider if symptoms recur or do not improve after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment, or if the pain is getting worse.
When possible, avoid activities that include repetitive movements of any body parts. Be aware of your posture when doing the activities. Strengthening your muscles and working on your balance may help decrease the risk of bursitis.
Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if Perineural Injection Therapy (PIT) works to treat adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) in adults. It will also learn about the safety of PIT. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does PIT reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder range of motion more effectively than conventional therapy alone? What side effects or medical problems do participan...
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Published Date: August 27, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Biundo JJ, Canoso JJ. Bursitis, tendinopathy, other periarticular disorders, and sports medicine. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 242.
Hogrefe C, Jones EM. Tendinopathy and bursitis. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 103.