A fluid-filled sac called bursa (plural bursae) protects the bones, muscles, and joints through cushioning and support. Any inflammation in the bursa can cause pain ranging from mild to severe. This pain can affect the shoulders, knees, elbows, and other joints. This inflammation causes pain as its chief symptom and is termed bursitis. When any major symptoms appear, immediate treatment becomes necessary. Some exercises can help patients avoid or counter this inflammation. Let us discuss various causes, symptoms, and treatment options for pain and other symptoms of bursitis.
Causes of Bursitis
Here are some noted causes for the inflammation in the bursa.
- Continuous slow frictional movements in any joint, including shoulder, knee
- Any state of physical challenge that creates extreme pressure on joints
- Arthritis in a close joint where bursitis may occur
- Repetitive tension on the bursa
- Injury or infection in the bursa
Symptoms of Bursitis
Symptoms may develop gradually or appear all of a sudden as pain or stiffness, the chief symptoms of bursitis. Joint pain, muscle stiffness, local swelling, and redness are the other major symptoms exhibited by the affected joint, including the shoulder (though this is rare), knees, or elbow joints. There can be instances such as many people working under pressure for long may face a condition of a frozen shoulder. This is also called shoulder bursitis.
Treatment for Pain and Other Symptoms of Bursitis
These are key treatment options for bursitis or pain and other symptoms of bursa inflammation in the knee, elbow, hip, shoulder, or any other joint.
- Anti-inflammatory and pain medications can help reduce pain and prevent the condition from worsening.
- For severe cases of bursitis, seek expert medical treatment, which might require removing the fluid inside bursa using a sterilized needle.
- In case the bursitis infection is not severe, a cortisone injection might be among the best treatment options for getting rid of symptoms of inflammation.
- An infected bursa needs medical evaluation and treatment that may include antibiotic therapy and draining of bursa and removing the bursa fluid.
Treatment of Symptoms at Home
Bursitis pain may affect the shoulder due to shoulder bursitis or it may affect any other joints; these treatments can help relieve pain and other symptoms of bursitis.
- Apply ice packs on the painful area for 15 minutes at least twice a day.
- Use range-of-motion exercises even in cases of severe pain due to a frozen shoulder or other painful symptoms of bursitis. Gentle exercises done regularly and under guidance can help relieve inflammation.
- Among the most effective exercises is to rest joints that may be under extreme stress or weight, such as the shoulder and elbow, without any constant pressure, weight, or jerks.
- Bursitis can be prevented or treated by regular exercise.
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