Turmeric, boswellia, and white willow are three herbs that may reduce inflammation.
Vitamin B12 injections have been shown to relieve symptoms of acute shoulder bursitis and decrease the amount of calcification in some cases.
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.
Turmeric is the yellow spice in curry as well as yellow mustard. One important component, curcumin, has anti-inflammatory activity and has been used for relieving arthritis, bursitis and other joint pain, stabilizing blood sugar, preventing cancer, treating warts and wounds and alleviating eczema and psoriasis.
The most common causes of bursitis are repetitive motions or positions that put pressure on the bursae around a joint. Examples include: Throwing a baseball or lifting something over your head repeatedly. Leaning on your elbows for long periods.
Bursitis occurs when bursae become inflamed due to repetitive movements and excessive strain on the joints. Other causes include trauma in the joint due to an injury and infection.
Opt for foods that are rich in vitamin B such as broccoli, spinach and bananas. Foods high in vitamin C are known to strengthen the bursa sac as can foods rich in Omega 3s.
Apply Soothing Balm
One remedy worth trying is Tiger Balm, a Chinese massage cream containing menthol, which may ease bursitis pain when used one or two times a day.
The treatment goal is to reduce compression and relieve pressure on the bursa. In most cases of bursitis, excluding prepatellar bursitis, direct massage or pressure is contraindicated directly over the bursa. Instead, massage therapy will reduce the compression caused by muscle tension above and below the joint.
When sleeping with shoulder bursitis, you should avoid sleeping on your front or side. Sleeping on your back is best for this condition, though if you simply cannot get to sleep on your back you can try the side-sleeping positions above.
Peppermint oil and frankincense oil can be applied to the affected shoulder to boost circulation, reduce inflammation and control pain. These can also be used during massage therapy, applied before or after stretching, and added to a bath.
Bursitis is when a joint becomes painful and swollen. It can usually be treated at home and should go away in a few weeks.
For bursitis specifically, a tight iliotibial (IT) band is often part of the problem, and this is a difficult part of the body to stretch. Consider seeing a physical therapist, osteopath, or naturopathic physician for this problem.
Pain that doesn't go away
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. A tear of this muscle can cause significant pain that extends into the buttocks and down the leg.
The key difference between arthritis and bursitis is the anatomical structures that they affect. Arthritis is a chronic condition that irreparably damages bone, cartilage, and joints, whereas bursitis is a temporary condition that involves the painful swelling of bursae for a time. Pain is worst in the morning.
Is bursitis curable? Bursitis is usually short-lived, lasting a few hours to a few days. If you don't rest, it can make your recovery longer.
When an injury or inflammation, such as tendonitis or bursitis occurs, tissues are damaged. Cold numbs the affected area, which can reduce pain and tenderness. Cold can also reduce swelling and inflammation.
Exercise is often prescribed to improve joint pain, so walking could be a vital part of managing your bursitis symptoms.
The Arthritis Foundation suggests taking turmeric capsules (400 to 600 mg) 3 times per day. Another option is to take a half to three grams of the root powder every day.
And a recent analysis of research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food on turmeric extracts concluded that eight to 12 weeks of treatment with standardized turmeric extracts can reduce pain due to arthritis, compared with placebo.
In one study, participants reported improvements in joint discomfort after supplementing with 2 grams of turmeric daily for 6 weeks. Another study reported results after 8-12 weeks of supplementation with 1 gram of turmeric daily.