Bursitis

What is bursitis?

Your joints contain fluid-filled sacs called bursae. These sacs cushion the tendons, bones, and muscles that surround your joints, and bursitis is a condition that occurs when your bursae become inflamed. Bursitis can occur in any joint that contains bursae, but it is most commonly found in the elbows, hips, shoulders, and knees. Common symptoms of bursitis include achiness, stiffness, swelling, or redness in the joints. In addition, this condition is typified by an increase in pain when the affected joint is touched.

What causes bursitis?

Bursitis is most commonly caused by repetitive motions that put stress on the bursae of a joint. If you play sports or have a job that involves heavy lifting, you are more at risk of developing bursitis, and this condition can also occur if you lean on your elbows or kneel for long periods. This condition is more common in older people, and it can sometimes be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or diabetes.

What are symptoms of  bursitis?

Symptoms of bursitis includes pain, lack of mobility, even loss of motion, especially in shoulders called frozen shoulders.

How is bursitis diagnosed?

During the course of a physical exam, your doctor will ask you questions about your pain and feel around the affected area. If necessary, X-rays will be ordered to eliminate the possibility that another condition is causing your discomfort. Also, blood tests or analysis of the fluid from the affected bursa may be ordered to determine the exact cause of your symptoms.

How is bursitis treated?

If your bursitis is infection-related, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. In general, reducing inflammation will help your bursae heal, which means that anti-inflammatory medications may be prescribed. Losing weight or observing a healthy diet will help you heal more effectively, and physical therapy may also be effective in speeding up the healing process. In rare cases, surgery is required. At Advance Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation our experienced therapists use treatments which include ultrasound, electric stimulation, cryo therapy, manual therapy, massage, stretching, strengthening exercises, home exercise programs to restore our patients back to pain free living.