Bursitis: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
Bursitis
Bursitis refers to the inflammation or swelling of a bursa. Bursa is a synovium-lined sac-like structure found all over the body between bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. There are more than 150 known bursae in the human body. Bursae create a cushion between tissues that move against one another to move to the musculoskeletal system easier.
Bursitis causes fluid to build up in the bursa, making it painful for the patient to move against or put direct pressure on it. Overuse injuries, infectious diseases, trauma, and inflammatory conditions are all potential causes of bursitis.
The very first step in treating bursitis is to rest the affected joint and protect it from further damage. Bursitis pain typically relieves in a few weeks with proper treatment, but it frequently returns.
Types Of Bursitis
The most common types of bursitis are mentioned below.
Retromalleolar Tendon Bursitis
Albert's disease refers to this kind of bursitis as well. Certain diseases, injuries, or shoes with rigid back support can cause this kind of bursitis. The Achilles tendon's lower portion is put under additional pressure by these. The calf muscle is joined to the heel's back by this. The bursa, which connects the tendon to the heel, may become inflamed as a result.
Pes Anserine Bursitis
This type is caused by overexertion of the knee or lower leg, arthritis, tight hamstring muscles, not stretching before exercise, and obesity. Goosefoot bursitis and knee bursitis are other names for this kind of bursitis. The bursa between the three tendons of the hamstring muscles and the shin bone on the knee's inside is the Pes Anserine bursa.
Posterior Achilles Tendon Bursitis
The bursa between the skin of the heel and the Achilles tendon is the site of posterior Achilles tendon bursitis. Haglund deformity refers to this kind of bursitis as well. The calf muscles are joined to the heel by this. It is made worse by walking that presses the soft tissue in the heel into a shoe's hardback support.
Kneecap Bursitis
Kneecap bursitis, also known as prepatellar bursitis, is a common condition that affects carpet layers and plumbers who spend a lot of time on their knees.
Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis, also known as trochanteric bursitis, can be brought on by injury, overuse, spinal abnormalities, arthritis, or surgery. Women, people of middle age, and older people are more likely to get it.
Olecranon Bursitis
The bursa (the olecranon bursa) between the elbow's bones and skin becomes inflamed, resulting in elbow bursitis. It is also known as elbow bursitis. Injury or constant pressure on the elbow can both result in elbow bursitis.
Causes Of Bursitis
The most common causes of bursitis are overuse, injury, and repeatedly placing too much pressure on a joint. Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and gout are a few of the conditions that can cause it. The risk of developing hip and knee bursitis increases with increasing bursitis.
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Bursitis is frequently brought on by excessive joint use, particularly when the activity is performed in an awkward manner or with a lot of pressure. People who perform repetitive movements or put stress on their joints daily are more likely to develop bursitis.
Infection is another condition that can cause bursitis. This could happen if a joint is damaged and bacteria enter the bursa.
The bursa itself is a synovial lining that represents a potential space in the sense that it is collapsed upon itself until a trigger causes the bursa to become irritated and fill with synovial fluid. This occurs until the trigger is removed.
When the inflamed bursa is then compressed against bone, muscle, tendon, ligaments, or skin, the patient feels pain. Bursitis does not always have an obvious inflammatory process, despite the name. However, patients with subacromial bursitis have been found to have elevated levels of inflammatory mediators like TNF-alpha, cyclooxygenases, and specific interleukins when their subacromial bursa was examined.
Risk Factors Of Bursitis
The most significant risk factors for bursitis are:
- The risk of bursitis increases with increasing age.
- Work or hobbies that require a lot of repetition, like sports, manual labor, or music.
- Conditions like diabetes, gout, arthritis, or thyroid disease.
- Bursitis can occasionally cause by an infection, especially by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
- High-risk activities can also cause bursitis. For example, gardening, raking, carpentry, shoveling, painting, scrubbing, tennis, golf, skiing, and throwing.
- Bursitis can also develop if you sit or stand incorrectly for a long time at work or home
- If you don't stretch enough before you exercise.
- Bursitis can occasionally result from a sudden injury.
Symptoms Of Bursitis
Bursitis can manifest the following symptoms:
localized pain, swelling, a warm sensation in or around the affected area, nighttime pain, pain that gets worse with movement, stiffness, and reddening of the affected area's skin. Bursitis typically affects the heel, hip, knee, shoulder, and elbow.
Diagnosis Of Bursitis
Based on a patient's physical exam and medical history, doctors frequently can diagnose bursitis. If necessary, testing might include imaging and lab tests.
Although X-ray images cannot definitively diagnose bursitis, they can assist in excluding other causes of your discomfort. If your bursitis cannot be easily diagnosed with a physical exam alone, an MRI or ultrasound may be used.
To determine the root of your joint pain and inflammation, your doctor may order blood tests or a fluid analysis of the inflamed bursa.
Treatment Of Bursitis
Bursitis relieves itself by taking rest, painkillers, and icing the joints in most cases. Your healthcare professional may prescribe antibiotics if your bursitis is caused by an infection. In severe pain, corticosteroids can be injected into your bursa for quick relief from pain and inflammation. You can also use a walking cane to reduce pressure on the affected areas.
Exercise and physiotherapy are very effective at strengthening your muscles to prevent bursitis from returning. When treatment fails, your doctor will surgically drain the inflamed bursa.
Prevention Of Bursitis
It is impossible to prevent bursitis always. However, you can reduce your risk of developing bursitis and prevent severe flare-ups by changing some fundamental aspects of your lifestyle, such as:
- Maintaining a healthy weight to avoid placing additional strain on your joints
- Exercising to strengthen the muscles that support your joints
- Taking frequent breaks when performing repetitive tasks
- Warming up before engaging in strenuous activities
- Maintaining a good posture while sitting and standing
- Ceasing an activity if you experience pain
- If your job or hobby requires you to kneel frequently, you should cushion your knees with padding.
- Your shoulders' bursae are under heavy pressure when you carry heavy objects. Instead, use a wheeled cart or dolly.
- When lifting, bend your knees. Your hip bursae are under even more strain if you don't do this.
How To Treat Your Own Bursitis At Home
You can reduce swelling and pain by following the RICE technique. RICE stands for rest, icing, compression, and elevation.
For the icing, place an ice pack wrapped in a tea towel over the area for approximately ten minutes. Then repeat this process several times throughout the day for 48 hours after symptoms develop. Try not to overuse the affected area. A heating pad or taking a hot shower can also be effective.
You can reduce pain by taking painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or paracetamol. Use additional cushions to protect and support the injured joint while you sleep.