Bursitis

Bursitis can cause serious joint pain and get in the way of the activities you love most. Finding relief is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and is an area of specialty at Commonwealth Pain & Spine, serving cities throughout Indiana and Kentucky. To learn more about treatments of bursitis, schedule a personal consultation today. You’re welcome to call or stop by the office nearest you to speak with a member of the administrative staff. Commonwealth’s Kentucky offices are in St. Matthews, Elizabethtown, Lexington, Crestview Hills, Owensboro, and London. Indiana offices are in Evansville, Vincennes, New Albany, Carrollton, and Jasper. They also serve patients from Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio.

What is Bursitis?

Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs near your joints that work to cushion the muscles, tendons, and bones that make up your joints. When one or more bursae become inflamed, the condition is called bursitis.

This inflammation usually appears in the bursae in your shoulders, hips, and elbows. It’s possible, however, to develop bursitis in your knees, heels, and even at the base of your big toes. Bursitis is usually found near the joints you use to perform repetitive tasks.

How Do I Know I Have Bursitis?

Joint pain can be caused by many different things, which is why you should seek a professional diagnostic exam if you experience persistent joint problems. Bursitis symptoms are similar to many other joint problems. Those symptoms include:

• Pain when you move or put pressure on the joint
• Swelling
• Redness near the joint
• An aching sensation
• Joint stiffness

If these problems don’t clear up after a few days of rest and self-care, schedule an exam at Commonwealth Pain & Spine to determine the cause and explore treatments.

What Causes Bursitis?

Most cases of bursitis are caused by repetitive motions or positioning that places undue pressure on the bursae surrounding a joint. Examples include:

• Throwing a baseball or softball
• Kneeling for long periods of time
• Leaning on your elbows

If your job requires repetitive motions or positions than place pressure on your joints, you could have an increased risk of bursitis. Arthritis, infection, and traumatic injury can also cause bursitis.

How is Bursitis Treated?

Your treatment plan is customized to suit your specific needs and lifestyle. A combination of treatments often offers the best results.

If an infection is present, a course of antibiotics can help treat bursitis. Corticosteroid injections can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. In some cases, temporarily using a cane or walker can relieve pressure on the joint as your body heals.

Physical therapy and targeted exercises can increase muscle strength around the affected joint. This can prevent bursitis from developing in the future. A simple surgical procedure can drain the inflamed bursa or, in rare cases, remove it altogether.

Trochanteric bursa injections can help relieve pain by delivering corticosteroids directly into the affected joint. Pain relief can last 4-6 weeks, and additional injections can extend the relief.

To learn more about these and other treatments of bursitis, book an appointment at Commonwealth Pain & Spine today, or you can call the office nearest you during business hours to check availability.