Bursitis occurs most often at joints that perform frequent repetitive motion.
Symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness. Common areas include the knees, shoulders, elbows, and hips.
Treatment includes rest, ice, and pain relievers. Surgery is rarely needed.
More than 200,000 US cases per year
Treatable by a medical professional
Requires a medical diagnosis
Lab tests or imaging rarely required
Medium-term: resolves within months
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.
Most commonly caused due to
- Injury
- Repetitive movement
- Excessive pressure on the joints
Other causes include:
- Conditions like arthritis and gout
- Infection
- Immune deficiencies including HIV and diabetes
- Trauma
- Autoimmune disorders that can cause inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma & systemic lupus erythematosus
- Certain medications
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