Bursitis Treatment in New Jersey
When you're active in sports or do a lot of daily tasks, you might feel a pain known as bursitis in your joints. This pain can turn your favorite activities into a struggle, and even simple household chores can become painful. Whether it's hip bursitis, bursitis shoulder, or bursitis knee, the pain might hit you suddenly and be sharp, or it can build up slowly and limit how well you can move.
At RWJBarnabas Health, our team of bone and joint health specialists can help you get relief from bursitis, including specific conditions like trochanteric bursitis. They'll also offer advice on how to prevent it from returning, to help you get back to a pain-free life.
What Is Bursitis?
Bursitis is when tiny, fluid-filled sacs called bursae get swollen and painful. These bursae are like unique cushions that help protect parts of your body where bones and other tissues meet. They are found around your joints, like in your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles. Bursae make it easier for your muscles, tendons, and skin to move smoothly over your bones.
You get bursitis when these sacs become irritated and swell. This usually happens if you use a joint too much or put a lot of pressure on it. The pain from bursitis can start suddenly or slowly get worse over time.
Types of Bursitis We Treat
Bursitis is an orthopedic condition that can occur in many places, but here are some common types we treat:
- Knee bursitis (prepatellar bursitis). Also known as "housemaid's knee," this type affects the knee and is common if you kneel a lot.
- Elbow bursitis (olecranon bursitis). This type is at the elbow and can happen if you lean on your elbows often. It's sometimes called "student's elbow."
- Hip bursitis (trochanteric bursitis). This happens at the side of your hip and can make it painful, mainly when you lie on that side.
- Shoulder bursitis (subacromial bursitis). Located under the edge of the shoulder blade, this type of bursitis often causes shoulder pain and is frequently linked to injuries in the shoulder's rotator cuff.
- Heel bursitis (retrocalcaneal bursitis). This bursitis occurs between the heel bone and the Achilles tendon. It is often seen in runners.
- Below the kneecap bursitis (infrapatellar bursitis). This affects the area just below your kneecap and is common in athletes.
- Buttock bursitis (ischial bursitis). Also called "weaver's bottom," it's in the part of your pelvis you sit on and is seen in cyclists and rowers.
- Septic bursitis. This type happens when a bursa gets infected and needs quick treatment, usually with antibiotics and possibly aspiration or surgery.
Bursitis Causes
A variety of factors, including the following, can cause bursitis:
- Repetitive motion or pressure. Continuous, repetitive activities or prolonged pressure on the bursa can lead to inflammation, common in athletes, musicians, and individuals whose jobs require repetitive motions.
- Trauma. A sudden impact or injury to a joint can cause the bursae to swell and become inflamed.
- Infection. Rarely, a bursa can become infected, usually due to a puncture wound, leading to infectious bursitis.
- Medical conditions. Certain systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout, can lead to bursitis.
Each type of bursitis can have specific causes, risk factors and treatment approaches.
Bursitis Symptoms
Here's how you can tell if you might have bursitis:
- Pain. The area around your joint might feel sore or stiff. It can hurt more when you move it or push on it.
- Swelling and redness. The joint might look puffy and could be red or feel warm.
- Difficulty moving. The pain and swelling might make it challenging to move that part of your body normally.
Bursitis Diagnosis
Your doctor might use tests like X-rays, ultrasounds or MRIs to ensure it is bursitis and not something else. Tests like these rule out other problems and can reveal swollen bursae.
Bursitis Treatment
Usually, simple treatments like rest, ice and pain relievers improve bursitis. But if these don't help, your doctor will have other options like physical therapy or injections. Using a cane or other device can sometimes take pressure off the sore area. Surgery is rare but might be needed if the bursitis worsens.
Treating bursitis usually includes:
- Rest. Take it easy and avoid activities that make the pain worse.
- Ice and heat. Use ice packs and sometimes a heating pad, to reduce swelling and pain.
- Medications. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help. If there's an infection, doctors might give you antibiotics.
- Support. Sometimes, a splint, sling or brace can help stabilize the sore area.
- Physical therapy. This can help strengthen muscles and increase flexibility.
- Injections. A doctor might use a shot to reduce inflammation for really bad pain.
- Surgery. In rare cases where nothing else works, surgery might be needed.
Remember, if you're dealing with bursitis, you don't have to just live with the pain. Our doctors in New Jersey are here to help you get back to doing what you love without discomfort.
Expert Care for Bursitis
Do not overlook the symptoms of bursitis. If you're experiencing bursitis in New Jersey, rely on the award-winning RWJBarnabas Health system for expert care.
