Stiff, Painful And Inflamed Joints: Could You Have Bursitis?

Bursitis — an inflammation of tissues few people have even heard of — isn't the most exciting medical topic to write or read about, not in a world where head transplants have been planned, nanotechnology is fast becoming a real part of medicine, and antibiotics may soon be a thing of the past. If you have it, though, bursitis can soon become the very painful and immobilizing center of your life. 

What exactly are bursae, why do they sometimes become inflamed, and why is it important to recognize the symptoms and seek timely treatment?

What Are Bursae?

Bursae are sacs filled with gel-like fluid located around the body in strategic places, where they are supposed to form a cushion between bones and tendons and reduce friction; they are, if you like, your body's very own "shock absorbers". The most important bursae are located in the hips, shoulders, elbows, knees and heels. Unless you have a problem with your bursae, you may never even know they're there. If they do become inflamed, however, you have bursitis on your hands (or, actually, usually in your shoulder, elbow, hip, or knee). Any medical term that has "-itis" at the end indicates an inflammation, and bursitis simply means "inflammation of the bursa".

Signs That You May Have Bursitis

A joint affected by bursitis will be painful and stiff. In addition, clear signs of an inflammation will be present, manifested in the form of red and swollen joints that are warm to the touch. The swelling caused by bursitis will reduce the range of mobility in your tendon, making any movement you do attempt a painful affair. 

Bursitis can be caused by a sudden single impact to the joint in question because you fall or bump it. On occasion, when a sharp object physically pierces the bursa, bursitis can also be the result of a bacterial infection. More often though, bursitis will be the result of repetitive friction. A "tennis" elbow, for instance, is bursitis of the elbow, named after the fact that moving the elbow joint in the same manner repeatedly, as tennis players do, can lead to bursitis.

Bursitis is equally likely to strike men and women, but the risk increases with age and is most common in people over 40. Those who engage in repetitive motions using particular areas of their body during work or leisure also have higher odds of developing bursitis, as do those who have rheumatoid arthritis, gout, overweight and obesity, and diabetes. 

READ Hip Bursitis - Trochanteric Bursitis

See your doctor if you have heavy joint pain, reduced mobility, or swelling and redness of a particular joint that does not go away within a week or improve after taking over the counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers. Take special care to seek medical attention right away if you also suffer from fever. 

How Is Bursitis Diagnosed And Treated?

Once you get to your doctor's office, your doctor will first inquire about your symptoms, when they started, about your medical history, and about the circumstances under which they arose. They will then take a look at your joint. In some cases, this will be all that is necessary in order to diagnose bursitis. If your doctor believes further tests are needed, they may include an ultrasound scan of the affected joint, an X-ray, or even an MRI scan. Sometimes blood tests and a biopsy of the fluid surrounding the joint are also recommended, in order to rule out rheumatic conditions and calcification of the joints. 

Being Treated For Bursitis

In almost all cases, once you've been diagnosed with bursitis, your doctor's first bit of advice will be to rest the affected joint. Most cases of bursitis will resolve on their own as long as the joint is being given the chance to recover from its inflammation, while continued use of the joint can on the other hand result on chronic bursitis. Rest is tremendously important, then. Ice packs and over the counter pain relievers that reduce inflammation as well as pain (ibuprofen, naproxen) can also help clear your bursitis up faster. 

If this more conservative treatment plan doesn't work for you, antibiotics can be offered if your bursitis was caused by a bacterial infection, and a corticosteroid injection can help if it wasn't. This relieves inflammation very fast. Physical therapy may also be required. 

In very rare cases, where bursitis doesn't go away after all the other treatment options were explored and exhausted, surgery can be carried out. During an operation for bursitis, part of the bursa is removed to relieve the inflammation. This surgery may be carried out laparoscopically as well as through traditional open surgery.

How Do I Avoid Getting Bursitis (Again)?

Whether you've recently recovered from bursitis and would like to avoid developing it again, or you engage in a lot of repetitive activities and want to prevent bursitis from developing at all, there are some steps you can take. 

For people who exercise a lot, it's important to remember to take the time to engage in stretching and warm-up before you get to your main workout. This goes a long way towards preventing injury. Having stronger muscles also helps protect your joints, so incorporating strength training on your routine is a good idea. 

READ Arthrocentesis - Joint fluid aspiration

If your work of hobby has you doing repetitive movements a lot, try to figure out whether there is anything that can help you out. Sometimes it's as simple as wheeling heavy loads around rather than lifting them manually, or remembering to lift things correctly in a way that does not put unnecessary pressure on your joints.