Several occupations and recreational activities may increase the risk of developing bursitis, including gardening and yard work (such as raking), carpentry, carpet laying, tile laying and other construction professions. Recreational activities like skiing, tennis, or other sports that involve throwing or pitching may increase the risk as well.
Symptoms of Bursitis
People who suffer from bursitis have painful and uncomfortable symptoms, many of which may mimic arthritis symptoms. Among these:
● Soreness or stiffness in the affected joint
● Pain, especially when the joint is moved or when pressure is applied to it
● Swelling or redness of the affected joint
For many bursitis sufferers, the pain may build up gradually while for others it may be sudden and severe, especially if calcium deposits are present. For people who suffer from bursitis in the shoulder, there may be severe loss of motion, called adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder, which results from the immobility and pain associated with shoulder bursitis.
While bursitis most often can be treated with home remedies and care to the affected joint, should any of the following less common symptoms arise, contact your healthcare professional and get medical attention:
● Disabling joint pain that interferes with your normal, day-to-day activities or pain that persists for more than two weeks
● Recurring episodes of bursitis
● Excessive swelling, redness, bruising or a rash over the affected joint
● Sharp or shooting pain, particularly when you exert yourself
● A fever
What Causes Bursitis?
Bursitis typically is caused by performing repetitive motions that put strain on a joint or joints in the body, and may irritate the bursa around a joint. While many of these motions are the result of the tasks performed as a result of our occupations, many others are the result of actions performed during recreational activities, from gardening to sports. It may be triggered, especially at the knees or elbows when pressure is put on these joints for prolonged periods of time on hard surfaces, such as activities that require kneeling for long periods of time.
Bursitis can be caused by an injury to the affected joint or by forms of arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout. In some cases, bursitis can be triggered by an infection -- a condition called septic bursitis, which will trigger symptoms including high fever, chills or a cellulitis infection. This form of bursitis requires urgent medical attention, to limit the spread of the infection and potential damage.
What Are My Risks of Developing Bursitis?
Bursitis can strike people of all ages and occupations, but the following risk factors may indicate that your sore, swollen joint is caused by this condition:
● Age: Bursitis occurrences increase with age, with most bursitis cases being diagnosed in adults who are older than 40
● Occupations or Hobbies: If your job or regular hobby requires you to perform repetitive motions or to put regular pressure on a particular bursa, you increase the risk of developing bursitis. Examples include certain construction specialties, gardening, sports and playing musical instruments.
● Medical Conditions: If you suffer from certain systemic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, gout or diabetes, you are at an increased risk of developing bursitis.
What Can I Do to Prevent Bursitis?
While repeated strain on a joint may lead to bursitis, one of the best treatments for this condition is prevention. You can take measures to modify your behaviors during work and play that would put you at risk for developing bursitis and identify underlying conditions, including leg length differences and poor posture, that may increase your risk. Among the other steps that can be taken to avoid this condition:
● Gradually build up to an activity level at which you put repetitive strain on a joint, giving your body a chance to build up strength for the repetitive movement.
● Use limited force and limit repetitions when possible.
● Stop and rest if unusual pain occurs.
● Lose weight if you are overweight and are at risk of developing bursitis.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your doctor can help make an accurate diagnosis and work with you to develop a plan for treatment and lifestyle changes to avoid or minimize future bursitis flare-ups. Because bursitis symptoms mimic those of other conditions, including arthritis (and because it may be caused by arthritis), it’s important to schedule an appointment with your doctor, who can perform a physical examination, as well as order lab tests and imaging scans that can rule out other causes for your joint pain.
How Is It Treated?
Treatment for bursitis typically involves resting the affected joint and protecting it from becoming further aggravated. In most cases, bursitis pain goes away within a few weeks of symptom onset, but recurrent flare-ups are common. Other ways to manage bursitis include:
● Avoiding activities that aggravate the joint
● Resting the injured area and taking measures to protect the affected joint from future injury or irritation
● Icing the affected joint
● Taking over-the-counter (OTC) anti-inflammatory medicines to ease the pain associated with bursitis.
If your condition does not improve within a week, see your doctor, who can prescribe drugs called corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation in the bursae. They can be injected directly into the site of the injury and work quickly to reduce inflammation and pain.
Your doctor may recommend physical therapy as a treatment option, which may include range-of-motion exercises and splinting. Surgery is rarely required but may be an option for severe cases or when bursitis does not respond to other, less invasive treatment options.