Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa.
Bursae – are fluid-filled sacs that cushion areas of friction between tendon and bone or skin. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees and heels. Humans have bursae throughout the body. When the condition called bursitis occurs, the normally slippery bursa becomes swollen and inflamed.
Two types of bursits:
- Acute disease: – when the affected joint takes on a reddish color, it is painful and is usually caused by infection.
- Chronic disease: it may be the result of having suffered an acute bursitis in advance, or another cause is that the patient has had joints injuries on several occasions.
What causes bursitis (bursa inflammation)?
- Infection
- Injury
- Rheumatic condition
- Autoimmune disease (rheumatois arthritis, Spa, gout, psoriatic arthritis, etc.)
- Incorrect posture
- Sport – repetitive movement, prolonged or excessive pressure, inefficient movement, poor stretching before exercise
Symptoms and signs:
- Pain at the site of the bursa and beyond.
- Pain with motion
- Loss of motion
- Local swelling
- Local stiffness
- Local redness and warmth
- Tenderness
- On X-ray showed calcifications in the bursa
Bursitis treatment:
- Resting and protecting the affected joint from further trauma
- Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation..
- Sometimes an inflamed bursa must be surgically drained,
- Rarely is necessary surgical removal of the affected bursa
With proper treatment, in most cases, bursitis pain goes away within a few weeks.