Bursitis is a form of joint pain that results from overusing a joint or muscle. We often see bursitis in athletes or workers who have to complete repetitive movements for their jobs. Bursitis is most common in adults over the age of 40, but some young athletes experience it at an early age. Let’s take a look at what bursitis is and how you can address it.
An Overview of Bursitis
Your body is filled with tiny sacs of fluid called bursae. They cushion the bones and tendons around your joints, including your knees, elbows, hips, feet, and shoulders. Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursae. When those sacs become inflamed, they cause targeted pain that can change the way you move throughout the day.
Bursitis is most common in the joints that get used the most, such as your knees and shoulders. But you can experience bursitis in other areas. Bursitis may go away with proper treatment, but many patients experience recurrent flare-ups of discomfort.
Signs and Symptoms of Bursitis
Here are some common symptoms of bursitis:
- Joints look swollen, red, or inflamed
- You feel pain when you put pressure on the bursae
- Sharp pain when you exercise or do a lot of physical activity
- Feeling achy, stiff, or unable to move because of joint pain
- Limited range of motion
Because these symptoms may overlap with other conditions, it’s important to talk to your doctor about potential causes and remedies. The specialists here at Macomb Pain Management would be happy to assist you.
What Causes Bursitis?
Bursitis is often caused by repetitive movement of a specific joint. For example, an athlete who consistently throws with the same arm may experience bursitis in the elbows or shoulder. A factor worker who bends up and down to sort freight may get bursitis in their knees or hips. The repeated motions create extra pressure on the joints, which causes the fluid sacs nearby to become inflamed. Bursitis may also spawn from certain infections or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis vs. Bursitis
Arthritis pain and bursitis pain may impact similar areas of the body, but they are not the same. Arthritis affects the bones and cartilage in your joints, while bursitis affects the fluid sacs around your joints. It is possible to have both bursitis and arthritis. This is why it is important to seek help from a pain treatment specialist who can target the source of your pain. If you have overlapping conditions, you need treatments for both. Macomb Pain Management provides targeted solutions for arthritis, bursitis, and other forms of joint pain.
How to Treat Bursitis
The first step in getting treatment for bursitis is to determine if bursitis is the cause of your pain. If so, your pain management doctor can recommend lifestyle changes, medications, or minimally invasive procedures to relieve your discomfort. For example, you may need to take some time off work to rest the inflamed joint, or you may need to take a different approach to certain activities. Our bursitis treatment specialists can go over targeted pain relief techniques to put you back in control of your life. Reach out to (248) 844-8281 to schedule a consultation for bursitis treatment.
