Bursitis
- Article
- 2021-01-29
Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts, such as muscles, tendons, or skin.
In bursitis, the bursa turns red and fluid increases, causing swelling and pain.
Symptoms
Bursitis can cause pain in your joint, especially when you move it, and cause swelling.
Therapy
Treating bursitis can reduce pain and inflammation and help the injured bursa heal. Some common treatments for bursitis are:
- Rest and lift the injured area.
- Limit your activity to reduce further injury.
- Use of anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, naproxen, or ibuprofen.
- Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises recommended by a physician.
- Apply compression to the injured area.
- Placing a brace, splint, or band on the injured joint.
If an infection is causing your bursitis, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics. Your doctor may also recommend ice for acute injuries, but most cases of bursitis are chronic, and ice isn't helpful.
If your bursitis doesn't improve, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid drug into the area around the inflamed bursa. While these injections are common, they should be used with caution as they can lead to weakening or rupture of tendons. If your bursitis doesn't improve after 6 months to a year, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the damage and relieve pressure on your bursae.
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