If you have a painful, stiff and swollen joint that feels warm, you might have bursitis. You should see your doctor or physiotherapist if you have a fever (there may be infection) or if your symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks.
Consult your doctor if you have: Disabling joint pain. Sudden inability to move a joint. Excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash in the affected area.
This relatively common condition may be mild or severe. Severe bursitis is a very dangerous medical condition, so it's important to understand the symptoms, causes and treatment of this ailment.
Chronic pain: Untreated bursitis can lead to a permanent thickening or enlargement of the bursa, which can cause chronic inflammation and pain. Muscle atrophy: Long term reduced use of joint can lead to decreased physical activity and loss of surrounding muscle.
Untreated bursitis will compromise joint health, limit motility, and cause a decline in quality of life. If you suspect that you have this condition, contact us at Sarasota Arthritis Center and make an appointment with one of our experienced rheumatologists.
Bursitis generally gets better on its own. Conservative measures, such as rest, ice and taking a pain reliever, can relieve discomfort. If conservative measures don't work, you might require: Medication.
Bursitis is when a joint becomes painful and swollen. It can usually be treated at home and should go away in a few weeks.
Bursitis is typically caused by repetitive, minor impact on the area, or from a sudden, more serious injury. Age can also play a role as tendons become less elastic and more susceptible to tearing.
Doctors may recommend over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or naproxen, to reduce inflammation in the bursa and tendon and relieve pain. These medications are typically recommended for a few weeks while the body heals.
Cases of malignant bursitis have been reported several times in the literature, though nearly all of the instances involved connective tissue or metastatic tumors. Tumor histologies include osteochondroma,8,9 malignant fibrous histiocytoma,10 synovial sarcoma,11 and metastatic breast cancer.
Occupations and hobbies that involve repetitive tasks done for long periods can also cause too much strain on the joint and irritate the bursa. These include: Gardening. Raking and shoveling.
Foods that can trigger inflammation may make your pain worse so these are ones to avoid if you can. This includes processed foods (ready meals, sliced meat), caffeine, fizzy juice, sugars (cakes, biscuits etc.), and alcohol.
Physio is good for bursitis since a physiotherapist can help reduce pain and promote recovery of the affected bursa by using a combination of massage, dry needling, electrotherapy, acupuncture and rehab exercises.
Most cases of bursitis heal on their own with rest and at-home treatments. But your provider may recommend additional treatment options, including: Antibiotics if you have an infection. Physical therapy to increase your range of motion.
Bursitis can subdivide into three phases: acute, chronic and recurrent.
Avoid repetitive stress and overuse.
Bursitis is caused by several factors. Primary among these are repetitive stress and overuse. Repetitive movements of the legs while under load, such as during cycling, can lead to bursitis.
Medical Imaging
If it is unclear whether symptoms are caused by hip bursitis or another condition, a doctor may request an: X ray. The most common type of medical imaging ordered is x-ray.
Massage can feel good, and myofascial release therapy (a type of massage) may decrease the pain of a sore joint. However, do not massage the affected area if your bursitis is caused by an infection; you may inadvertently promote the spread of the infectious agent throughout the body.
Exercise is often prescribed to improve joint pain, so walking could be a vital part of managing your bursitis symptoms.
Since prepatellar bursitis is quite superficial, topical NSAIDs such as diclofenac topical gel (Voltaren Gel) can be very effective, with minimal systemic side effects.
Living with bursitis of the hip
If you have chronic bursitis, try to minimize flare-ups by stretching each day to increase range of motion. And avoid activities that you know will result in pain. Repetitive-motion activities are especially bad for bursitis.
Bursitis is treatable and reversible, unlike arthritis (which is progressive). It's possible to develop bursitis from bumping your hip into a countertop. Most of the time our body is able to deal with the trauma and eliminates the inflammation on its own.
Pain that doesn't go away
Hip bursitis (trochanteric bursitis) may be a sign of a more serious issue. If you continue to have bursitis pain at the hip that has not improved despite extensive treatment, you may have a tear of a muscle located next to the bursa called the gluteus medius.
Activities or positions that put pressure on the hip bursa, such as lying down, sitting in one position for a long time, or walking distances can irritate the bursa and cause more pain. It is also important to learn the hip bursitis exercises to avoid making the condition worse.