Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesPhysical Examination and DiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Physical Examination and Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Bursitis is a condition in which slippery cushions within a joint space, called bursa, become inflamed. (In medical terminology, the suffix “-itis” refers toinflammation.)
The function of a bursa is to decrease friction between two surfaces as they move in different directions. The bursa itself is comprised of a thin sac filled with a tiny amount ofsynovial fluid, which has the consistency of egg white. There are over 150 bursae situated throughout the body.
Healthybursaecreate an almost frictionless movement between bones, muscles, and tendons as they move either in coordination or opposition. If bursitis develops, the inflamed sac can impair movement and cause localized pain and swelling.
This article will discuss the symptoms and triggers of bursitis, and how to diagnose and treat the condition. It will also discuss possible lifestyle adjustments for reducing the risk of recurrence.
Bursitis is typically associated with repetitive joint stress. According to a 2012 study inOccupational Medicine,people who work in construction or other types of manual labor are eight times more likely to have bursitis than office workers.
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images
What Are the Symptoms of Bursitis?
Bursitis commonly affects the superficial bursa of the shoulders, knees, elbow, or hips. Symptoms can vary in their severity but typically include:
The pain is usually worse during and after activity.
What Can Trigger Bursitis?
Cellulitis is a potentially life-threatening condition. Seek immediate care if you develop red, swollen skin that feels hot and tender to the touch. Red streaks emanating from the site of the infection are a sign of a medical emergency.
Bursitis can often be diagnosed with a physical examination and a review of your medical history. The findings consistent with bursitis include:
If there is any suspicion of infection, your healthcare provider may want to obtain a sample of synovial fluid from the affected bursa. The fluid can usually be extracted with a needle and syringe in a procedure known asarthrocentesis.
Imaging tests such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are usually not needed unless there is some sort of accident or injury.
How Do You Make Bursitis Go Away?
The treatment of bursitis depends largely on the type of bursitis you have. The primary aims are to alleviate physical strain on the bursa, decrease inflammation, and allow ample recovery time.
Most cases will resolve with conservative treatment. Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) can often provide ample pain relief. In addition to rest,ice applicationcan help reduce swelling, while short-term immobilization may be recommended if there is any evidence of connective tissue damage.
While most bursitis cases tend to improve within days or weeks, some can take months. Chronic bursitis is sometimes treated with an intrabursal corticosteroid injection to quickly alleviate inflammation.
If bursitis persists despite appropriate treatment, surgical excision may be required. The procedure, known as bursectomy, can be performed as anopen surgery(with a scalpel) orarthroscopically(with a scope and keyhole incisions).Once a bursa is removed, a new one can form in its place.
Septic bursitis may be treated with oral or intravenous antibiotics depending on the severity of the infection. Surgical drainage may also be used if pus develops in and around the bursa.
There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of recurrence or the severity of a flare-up:
Summary
Early diagnosis and treatment can often reduce the frequency or severity of a bursitis flare. If there are any signs of infection, call your healthcare provider immediately, especially if there is a high fever, an open wound, increasing redness or warmth, or a discharge of any sort.
Posterior Heel Pain Causes and Treatment
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.StatPearls.Bursitis.Le Manac’h AP, Ha C, Descatha A, Imbernon E, Roquelaure Y.Prevalence of knee bursitis in the workforce.Occup Med (Lond). 2012 Dec;62(8):658-60. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqs113.Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.StatPearls.Septic bursitis.Conduah AH, Baker CL, Baker CL.Clinical management of scapulothoracic bursitis and the snapping scapula.Sports Health. 2010;2(2):147-155. doi:10.1177/1941738109338359Stanford Health Care.Treatment for bursitis.Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005University of Rochester Medical Center.Bursitis.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.StatPearls.Bursitis.Le Manac’h AP, Ha C, Descatha A, Imbernon E, Roquelaure Y.Prevalence of knee bursitis in the workforce.Occup Med (Lond). 2012 Dec;62(8):658-60. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqs113.Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.StatPearls.Septic bursitis.Conduah AH, Baker CL, Baker CL.Clinical management of scapulothoracic bursitis and the snapping scapula.Sports Health. 2010;2(2):147-155. doi:10.1177/1941738109338359Stanford Health Care.Treatment for bursitis.Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005University of Rochester Medical Center.Bursitis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
StatPearls.Bursitis.Le Manac’h AP, Ha C, Descatha A, Imbernon E, Roquelaure Y.Prevalence of knee bursitis in the workforce.Occup Med (Lond). 2012 Dec;62(8):658-60. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqs113.Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.StatPearls.Septic bursitis.Conduah AH, Baker CL, Baker CL.Clinical management of scapulothoracic bursitis and the snapping scapula.Sports Health. 2010;2(2):147-155. doi:10.1177/1941738109338359Stanford Health Care.Treatment for bursitis.Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005University of Rochester Medical Center.Bursitis.
StatPearls.Bursitis.
Le Manac’h AP, Ha C, Descatha A, Imbernon E, Roquelaure Y.Prevalence of knee bursitis in the workforce.Occup Med (Lond). 2012 Dec;62(8):658-60. doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqs113.
Arthritis Foundation.Bursitis.
StatPearls.Septic bursitis.
Conduah AH, Baker CL, Baker CL.Clinical management of scapulothoracic bursitis and the snapping scapula.Sports Health. 2010;2(2):147-155. doi:10.1177/1941738109338359
Stanford Health Care.Treatment for bursitis.
Mitchell JJ, Chahla J, Vap AR, et al.Endoscopic trochanteric bursectomy and iliotibial band release for persistent trochanteric bursitis.Arthrosc Tech.2016;5(5):e1185-e1189. doi:10.1016/j.eats.2016.07.005
University of Rochester Medical Center.Bursitis.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
