Bursitis

What is bursitis?

Bursitis refers to inflammation in structures called bursae. Bursae are small, thin, fluid-filled sacs located between bones and soft tissues such as your skin, ligaments, and tendons. Each bursa acts like a cushion that reduces friction. As a result, moving bones easily glide past the soft tissues.

What causes bursitis?

Bursitis can affect any joint. However, it most often appears in the shoulder, knee, elbow, and hip joints, where it’s caused by:

Prolonged pressure on the joint

Leaning on your elbow or working in a job that requires frequent kneeling are two examples of prolonged pressure.

Trauma

A hard blow to the joint can make the bursa produce extra fluids and swell.

Infection

A laceration, puncture wound, or insect bite are a few sources of infections that can invade the bursa.

Medical conditions

Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout increase your risk of developing bursitis.

Repetitive use injury

Repeatedly making the same joint movement puts extra pressure on the bursa and causes bursitis.

Bone spurs or calcium deposits

Bone spurs and calcium deposits that develop in joints may irritate the bursa and lead to inflammation.

What symptoms develop due to bursitis?

Bursitis causes pain that’s worse when you use the joint. You may also have noticeable swelling in the joint, as well as achy, stiff joints. 

Hip bursitis tends to feel worse when you get up from sitting or after you lie on the hip at night. If the bursa becomes infected, the skin over the joint becomes red and warm.

How is bursitis treated?

Bursitis usually responds well to nonsurgical treatments. Your customized treatment plan may include one or more of the following:

• Elbow or knee pads
• Icing and elevating the arm or leg
• Resting or immobilizing the joint
• Assistive devices to take weight off the joint
• Avoiding activities that affect the joint
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Removing excess fluid in the bursa (aspiration)
• Steroid injections (into the bursa)
• Physical therapy
• Antibiotics (only for an infected bursa)

If your symptoms don’t improve or you have an infection that doesn’t clear up with antibiotics, your provider may recommend surgery to remove the bursa.

If you need relief from the pain and swelling of bursitis, call Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center, or request an appointment online today.

Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)