Bursitis is often mistaken for arthritis because joint pain is a symptom of both conditions. There are various types of arthritis that cause joint inflammation, including the autoimmune response of rheumatoid arthritis or the breaking down of cartilage in the joints in degenerative arthritis.
Gout can mimic bursitis as well, especially at the olecranon, prepatellar, and infrapatellar bursa, as these joints are common locations for the formation of gouty tophi or pain from pseudogout.
The most common causes of bursitis are injury or overuse. Infection may also cause it. Bursitis is also associated with other problems. These include arthritis, gout, tendonitis, diabetes, and thyroid disease.
Gently press on areas of your knee to detect warmth, swelling and the source of pain. Inspect the skin over the tender area for redness or other signs of infection. Carefully move your legs and knees to determine your knee's range of motion and whether it hurts to bend or flex it.
Arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis are three different conditions, but they share similarities. For many people, these conditions can cause pain and swelling, which makes it harder to perform even basic movements. The source of pain for all three involves inflammation, but the location of the inflammation varies.
Sudden inability to move a joint. Excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash in the affected area. Sharp or shooting pain, especially when you exercise or exert yourself. A fever.
Knee bursitis signs and symptoms vary, depending on which bursa is affected and what's causing the inflammation. In general, the affected portion of your knee might feel warm, tender and swollen when you put pressure on it. You might also feel pain when you move or even at rest.
Walking can aggravate the symptoms of knee bursitis, so it's important to listen to your body and take it easy if you're experiencing pain. However, walking is not likely to cause further damage to the joints and may help reduce inflammation.
Rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the tissues in your joints. Tissue damage weakens the joint, putting extra pressure on the bursa.
Bursitis can be rapid in onset (acute) or build up slowly over time (chronic). Acute bursitis is often the result of an injury (bleeding), infection, or inflammatory condition. Chronic bursitis often follows a long period of repetitive use, motion, or compression.
Ultrasound or MRI might be used if your bursitis can't easily be diagnosed by a physical exam alone. Lab tests. Your doctor might order blood tests or an analysis of fluid from the inflamed bursa to pinpoint the cause of your joint inflammation and pain.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
An MRI is not necessary to diagnose hip bursitis, but may be ordered to confirm or rule out possible diagnoses. An MRI will provide a detailed view of the soft tissue and detect abnormalities such as a swollen bursa or damaged tendon.
A hygroma, also known as a false bursa, is a fluid-filled sac that forms over a joint. It most commonly appears on the elbow, but can appear on other pressure points like where the dog sits (a.k.a., "butt bursas").
Deep-seated bursae are depicted on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). On MRI, the bursa is seen as a high T2 fluid-filled structure. CT shows the inflamed bursa as hypodense with an enhancing wall. Clinically, bursitis mimics several peripheral joint and muscle abnormalities.
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.
Since prepatellar bursitis is quite superficial, topical NSAIDs such as diclofenac topical gel (Voltaren Gel) can be very effective, with minimal systemic side effects.
In most cases, knee bursitis can be treated effectively without surgery. However, if you have chronic bursitis that doesn't respond to other treatments, you may need surgery to remedy the problem.
With the proper treatment, knee bursitis can be healed in an average of two to eight weeks. You must practice proper stretching, strengthening, and exercise for a speedy recovery from this condition.
Chronic prepatellar bursitis will usually improve over a period of time from weeks to months. The fluid-filled sac is not necessarily a problem, and if it does not cause pain, it is not always a cause for alarm or treatment.
Any of the bursa in your knee can become inflamed, but knee bursitis most commonly occurs over the kneecap or on the inner side of your knee below the joint.
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.
Septic bursitis is treated using antibiotics with demonstrated activity against the specific bacterial strain causing the infection. Untreated bursitis will compromise joint health, limit motility, and cause a decline in quality of life.
While some cases of bursitis heal on their own, it's best to involve a doctor if you have pain from a repetitive movement injury or lingering pain after 2 weeks.