Bursaes can be found in the shoulders, elbows, knees and hips. A bursa, also called a bursa or connective tissue sac, is filled with mucus. Bursaes are found in tendons and joints, especially in places where movement causes a lot of friction. Bursae provide protection. What causes bursitis, what symptoms can occur and what can be done about bursitis? Another word for bursitis is bursitis.
Article content
- Bursa or mucous membrane
- Bursitis or bursitis
- Places bursitis
- Most affected: shoulder (shoulder bursitis)
- Causes of bursitis
- Symptoms of bursitis
- Diagnosis bursitis
- Treatment of bursitis
- Corticosteroid injection
- Dealing with bursitis
- Healing bursitis
- Can bursitis come back?
Bursa or mucous membrane
A bursa can be compared to a pad, it is a bag containing mucus. A bursa ensures that skin slides easily over bone, it can also involve two pieces of bone that slide over each other in the correct way.
Bursitis or bursitis
When a bursa is irritated, fluid accumulates in the sac. It will then look like a balloon. It is often accompanied by inflammation, causing redness, warmth and pain. All this is called bursitis, an inflammation of the bursa. Bursitis is more common in adults. Men and women have an equal chance of developing bursitis.
Places bursitis
- Shoulder
- Elbow
- Knee
- Hip bone
- Achilles heel
Most affected: shoulder (shoulder bursitis)
Bursitis is most common in the shoulder, the shoulder joint is quite vulnerable. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint and is located between the shoulder blade and humerus. Above it you will find the collarbone, which is connected to a protrusion of the shoulder blade. The bursa is located slightly above the humerus, outside the joint capsule. A collective name for all kinds of conditions around the joint near the shoulder that are accompanied by pain and difficulty in movement: Periarthritis humeroscapularis (PHS).
Causes of bursitis
- Impact can cause bleeding in the bursa and this can lead to inflammation of the bursa.
- However, it is often due to irritation. Then you should think of certain professions, for example, pavers are more likely to suffer from bursitis in the knee. People who sit on their knees while praying are also more likely to suffer from it. Bursitis in the knee is also called Father’s knee.
- Inflammation of a bursa at the hip can occur if there is chafing of a tendon along the hip bone.
- If someone has shoes that pinch, inflammation of the bursa near the Achilles tendon may occur.
- Gout, rheumatoid arthritis and other joint diseases increase the risk of bursitis.
- Very occasionally a bacterial infection is the cause.
Symptoms of bursitis
- Sensitive bursa.
- Bursa is swollen.
- The affected joint is less mobile.
- Bursitis of the knee or elbow: the swelling often looks red, feels warm and painful.
- With bursitis of the shoulder, it is often less visible from the outside.
Diagnosis bursitis
Physical examination is necessary to establish the diagnosis. If it concerns a shoulder, the bursa will be particularly stressed at a position between 45 and 135 degrees. Once the arm has passed this point, the pain will probably become somewhat less severe.
Treatment of bursitis
- The affected joint needs rest.
- The pain can be counteracted with painkillers, such as paracetamol, and anti-inflammatories.
- Ice packs.
- In any case, go to the doctor immediately if the body temperature is elevated (fever)! Then there may be a bacterial infection and antibiotics are necessary.
- If the complaints do not disappear, drainage of the bursa is an option, and a corticosteroid injection (prednisone) is then given. Such an injection can be repeated a few times.
- If the bursitis persists or returns again and again, the doctor may recommend surgical intervention. This means that the bursa is removed, which rarely happens.
Corticosteroid injection
In severe cases, a corticosteroid injection may help. After receiving the injection, it is wise to rest for a few days.
There may be reasons not to give a corticosteroid injection:
- High blood pressure can make the disease worse.
- The condition can become worse if the blood sugar level is increased.
- If someone already suffers from stomach and/or intestinal complaints, these complaints can worsen (can even lead to stomach ulcers).
- The injection should not be given if there is a bacterial infection.
- In case of an infection caused by a virus, no injection should be given.
- Psychological complaints can be worsened by an injection, so a doctor must also be alert to this.
Dealing with bursitis
Consult with your doctor about what you should or should not do in your case. It is preferable not to put pressure on the affected bursa: do not kneel if it concerns the bursa near the knee, do not lean on an elbow if the bursa is affected. Limit sideways lifting with one shoulder. But it is also not good to rest completely, as the shoulder can become stuck and you may suffer from a frozen shoulder. If there is bursitis in a knee or elbow, you can simply move it because the bursae are outside the joints.
Healing bursitis
The amount of time healing takes varies greatly. In any case, rest in the initial period is very important. For example, if you have bursitis in the shoulder, someone who immediately rests the shoulder for a few weeks can be free of complaints again in a few months. If you continue to deal with the complaints, you may still have pain complaints after a year. A bursa that has been inflamed once usually remains a weak spot. If you notice the same complaints again after healing, take rest immediately and visit the doctor.
Can bursitis come back?
After healing, there may still be some loose pieces left behind and these can cause irritation. There is therefore a chance of recurrence.
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