Bursitis-Pain.com provides answers for Bursitis FAQ's
What Is Bursitis?
Bursitis is a painful inflammatory joint condition that can severely affect mobility, and can even be aggravated by movement of the joints in the affected area. The human body contains more than 150 bursae. A bursa is a tiny sac filled with fluid. Bursa is found near every joint. It reduces the friction between the bones and the tendons, thus helping the joints to move freely. Inflammation of bursa is called bursitis. Bursitis causes pain while moving the body. Bursitis mainly occurs on hip, ankle, knee, shoulder and elbow.
Bursitis is due to inflammation of a bursa (fluid filled sacs found near joints, muscles, tendons, and bones, that contain fluids to protect the joints). This painful condition causes the bursa to swell. This can develop calcified deposits in the shoulder, elbow, hip or knee, which may require surgical removal if balance is not restored.
Bursitis could develop due to various causes, and the causes and the location of the condition could be influenced by many different factors. Although the bursae are present within nearly every joint, the major bursae are quite naturally located around large joints, near to tendons. Such joints include those of the shoulders, hips, elbows and knees. Elbow bursitis and shoulder, hip and heel bursitis are the most frequent, but depending on the location, the actual causes could vary significantly. Sometimes the bursa may suffer inflammation on account of injury, or due to some underlying condition, but at other times inflammation may also develop as a result of infection.
What symptoms can be associated with bursitis?
- Inflammation and tenderness where tendons connect to bones.
- Limited motion
- Severe and shooting pains with swelling and redness.
- Fluid filled swelling of the affected area.
How or why did I get Bursitis?
- This can result from pressure, friction, strain, a blow to the affected body part, prolonged kneeling on a hard surface, prolonged pressure of an elbow against a table, or as a secondary symptom of arthritis or rheumatism. Chronic bursitis is usually caused by long-term overuse. The repeated motion of a muscle-tendon unit causes friction in the bursa. As the activity continues, the bursa becomes inflamed. It may fill with fluid. The bursa thickens and does not function well. Both bursa and tendon may become irritated. Your susceptibility can be caused by an imbalance in your system, most mormally an immune system imbalance. In addition, age does also have a role to play as the tendons become less tolerant to stress and there is some loss of elasticity as well, making them more vulnerable to tear.
What Are the Risk Factors of Bursitis?
Repetetive motion is the most common cause of Bursitis. Obviously, this brings to mind sports and athletics such as tennis, golf, softball, bowling, weightlifting, etc. However, jobs which require repetiitive motion in the workplace is equally as common. In the old days, bursitis was even known as the "Maid's Disease", because maids were so frequently on their knees scrubbing floors. Construction workers, tile installers, roofers, carpet layers, etc .very frequently suffer from bursitis. While there are many things that increase your chance for getting bursitis, the most common include:
- Repetitive motion activities when done to an extreme (eg, swimming, running, or tennis)
- Contact sports
- Sporting gear that does not fit well
What are the treatments for Bursitis?
Home treatment is often enough to reduce pain and let the bursa heal. It usually includes resting the joint, applying ice, and taking an all- natural pain medicine such as Flexcin. Gentle exercises and stretching can help prevent stiffness. Your doctor may suggest physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around your joints.
If you have severe bursitis, your doctor may use a needle to remove extra fluid from the bursa. Or you might wear a pressure bandage on the area. Both treatments are sometimes used together. Your doctor may also give you a shot of medicine to reduce swelling. Some people need surgery to drain or remove the bursa.
In general, acute bursitis treatment may include some of the following:
- Resting the affected area
- Icing the painful area
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications
- Having physical therapy, including exercising and applying heat
- Having a cortisone injection
- Protecting the area from trauma
How Is Bursitis Prevented?
Prevention of Bursitis requires routine stretching of the affected joint, as well as any tightened muscles above and below the joint, on a regular basis.... thereby lengthening the tendon connections around the bursa. This will allow less friction to the tendon/bursa/bone connection. This reduced the compression with sitting or lying down, and is crucial for helping to keep the bursa from losing its natural lubrication and allowing the bursa friction to occur more readily. When bursitis does occur, it is important to treat it immediately, and thereby prevent it from reaching a stage that is progressively more severe.
The following specific steps may help to prevent bursitis:
- Do not overdo sports and other activities
- When doing a new activity, gradually increase the length of time you do it
- Make sure you perform activities correctly.
- Wear protective pads if you play contact sports.
Where Can People Find More Information About bursitis?
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Information Clearinghouse
National Institutes of Health
http://www.niams.nih.gov