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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Illustration
Bursitis
What is bursitis?
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a
fluid-filled sac that surrounds joints or tendons. A bursa
reduces friction by cushioning muscles or tendons and bones
that move back and forth across each other. The elbow, hip,
knee, shoulder, and other joints contain a cushioning bursa.
How does it occur?
Irritation, injury, or pressure to a bursa can cause
inflammation, resulting in swelling and pain.
Causes of bursitis include:
- Injury of a joint from sports activities, such as
baseball, tennis, racquetball, and running, can cause the
disorder.
- Frequent irritation or friction on a body part from other
activities, including everyday household jobs such as
yard work, shoveling dirt or snow, and house painting,
can cause bursitis.
- Prepatellar bursitis, which is also called housemaid's
knee, results from kneeling on a hard or raised surface
for long periods.
- Olecranon bursitis, nicknamed student's elbow, results
from repeated pressure on the point of the elbow. It
often occurs when someone leans on a table or desk for a
long time.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of bursitis usually include swelling, redness, and
pain in the affected area, which is normally near a joint.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you to determine if you have
bursitis or another condition. He or she may use a needle
and syringe to get a sample of fluid from the bursa to rule out
infections and to find the cause of the bursitis. To gain
more information, your doctor may ask you to have x-rays and
blood tests.
How is it treated?
To relieve symptoms of bursitis, your doctor will recommend
these guidelines:
- Rest the affected area, such as the shoulder, elbow,
knee, or hip.
- Do not put any pressure on the sore and swollen area
until the swelling subsides.
- Put an ice pack on the area for 20 to 30 minutes three or
four times a day to help relieve pain.
- Maintain your range of motion by moving the joint to help
keep the joint from getting stiff.
- Gradually build strength in the area with gentle
exercise.
- Wait 3 to 6 weeks before returning to the sport or task
that originally caused your condition.
Your doctor may also prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug.
If symptoms still persist:
- Your doctor may remove excess fluid from the swollen area
with a needle and syringe. The doctor may then wrap the
injured site or splint it to keep the liquid from
refilling the area and to prevent you from moving it.
- Your doctor may inject the inflamed area with a steroid
drug, usually cortisone, and a local anesthetic to reduce
swelling, redness, and pain.
- Your doctor may recommend surgery to take out the bursa
if your condition continues to be troublesome despite
treatment.
How long will the effects last?
With treatment, the pain and swelling of bursitis usually
clear up within 1 or 2 weeks.
How can I take care of myself?
Follow the course of treatment your doctor prescribes.
When should I call the doctor?
In bursitis, the bursa is inflamed but not infected. If the
swelling spreads despite treatment or if you develop
fever, chills, or increased warmth, you should see a doctor
immediately. These are signs of possible infection.
How can I help prevent bursitis?
There are no specific steps you can take to prevent bursitis
from occurring again. You may choose not to do the activity
that caused the bursitis originally or try not to overuse
or reinjure the affected area.
Avoid pressure and injury to the joint by wearing a protective
pad.
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