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Bursitis

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 25, 2022.

Overview

Bursitis (bur-SY-tis) is a painful condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs — called bursae (bur-SEE) — that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints. Bursitis occurs when bursae become inflamed.

The most common locations for bursitis are in the shoulder, elbow and hip. But you can also have bursitis by your knee, heel and the base of your big toe. Bursitis often occurs near joints that perform frequent repetitive motion.

Treatment typically involves resting the affected joint and protecting it from further trauma. In most cases, bursitis pain goes away within a few weeks with proper treatment, but recurrent flare-ups of bursitis are common.

Shoulder bursae

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts in your body's joints. Shoulder bursitis is inflammation or irritation of a bursa (shown in blue) in your shoulder.

Elbow bursa

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts in your body's joints. Elbow bursitis is inflammation or irritation of the bursa (shown in blue) in your elbow.

Hip bursae

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction between moving parts in your body's joints. Hip bursitis is inflammation or irritation of one or more of the bursae (shown in blue) in your hip.

Knee bursae

Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs, shown in blue. They lessen friction between moving parts in the body's joints. Knee bursitis is swelling, also called inflammation, of one or more of the bursae in the knee.

Symptoms

If you have bursitis, the affected joint might:

When to see a doctor

Consult your doctor if you have:

Causes

The most common causes of bursitis are repetitive motions or positions that put pressure on the bursae around a joint. Examples include:

Other causes include injury or trauma to the affected area, inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout and infection.

Risk factors

Anyone can develop bursitis, but certain factors can increase your risk:

Prevention

While not all types of bursitis can be prevented, you can reduce your risk and the severity of flare-ups by changing the way you do certain tasks. Examples include:

Diagnosis

Doctors can often diagnose bursitis based on a medical history and physical exam. Testing, if needed, might include:

Treatment

Bursitis generally gets better on its own. Conservative measures, such as rest, ice and taking a pain reliever, can relieve discomfort. If conservative measures don't work, you might require:

Shoulder injection

Injection of a corticosteroid medication into your bursa can relieve the pain and inflammation of bursitis. In some cases, your doctor might use ultrasound to guide the injection into the affected bursa. The ultrasound's hand-held transducer provides a live-action display your doctor can view on a monitor during the procedure.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Measures you can take to relieve the pain of bursitis include:

Preparing for an appointment

You'll likely start by seeing your family doctor, who might refer you to a doctor who specializes in joint disorders (rheumatologist).

What you can do

Make a list that includes:

For bursitis, questions to ask your doctor include:

What to expect from your doctor

During the physical exam, your doctor will press on various spots around your affected joint to try to determine whether a specific bursa is causing your pain.

Your doctor may also ask you questions, such as:

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