Bursitis- Symptom, Causes, Treatment of Bursitis

Bursitis is the painful inflammation of the bursa, the fluid-filled sac that protects a tendon as it passes over a bony prominence, usually close to joints. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, the small fluid-filled sac that acts like a cushion between muscles and tendons, or between muscles and bones.

Bursitis may develop at the site of persistent or recurrent pressure (for example housemaid's knee, student's elbow, coachman's bottom, bunions), but often occurs for no obvious reason. Bursitis, tendinitis, and other soft tissue diseases such as myofascial syndrome, are rheumatic diseases that affect the tissues and structures that surround a joint and produce pain, swelling or inflammation.

Causes of Bursitis

Bursitis is caused by infection if there has been a penetrating injury. Common causes of bursitis are overuse, stress or direct trauma to a joint, such as with repeated bumping or prolonged pressure from kneeling. It can also be caused by trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and acute or chronic infection. Bursitis may also result from an infection, arthritis or gout. Many times, the cause is unknown.

• Overuse or injury
• Incorrect posture
• Abnormal joint position
• May occur in association with other diseases or conditions
• Occasionally from an infection
• Very often cause is unknown

Diagnosis of Bursitis

Bursitis is typically identified by localized pain or swelling, tenderness, and pain with motion of the tissues in the affected area. X-ray testing can sometime detect calcifications in the bursa when bursitis has been chronic or recurrent.

• Your doctor will take your medical history asking questions such as : When did you first experience the pain? How intense was it? What makes the pain worse?
• Your doctor will perform a physical exam to find where the pain is and to inspect other joints. The specific exam depends on which area of the body is affected.

Symptom of Bursitis

Symptom of Bursitis are pain, swelling and tenderness over the bursa and restriction of movement of the joint. In acute bursitis symptoms appear suddenly; with chronic bursitis, pain, tenderness, and limited movement reappear after exercise or strain. The bursae around the hip joint are deeper, and swelling is not obvious. Movement may be limited and is painful. In the shoulder, it may be difficult to raise the arm out from the side of the body. If you have bursitis, you may notice:

• A dull ache or stiffness in the area of your elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, big toe or other joints
• A worsening of pain with movement or pressure
• An area that feels swollen or warm to the touch
• Occasional skin redness in the area of the inflamed bursa

Treatment of Bursitis

Treatment of Bursitis is by rest, anti-inflammatory drugs and, in some cases, removal of excess fluid through a fine needle fonowed by injection of Cortico-Steroid Drugs into the bursa. Occasionally a bursa subject to recurrent bursitis or persistently distended with fluid is removed by surgery - a simple procedure that can usually !be carried out with local anaesthetic. Many of these conditions go away on their own. The immediate goal is to reduce pain and inflammation. Treatments may include:

• Rest and splints
• Heat and cold applications
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Surgery
• Medications: NSAIDs, Corticosteroids, Antibiotics

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