What is Bursitis?
May 14, 2009
Many times pain from Arthritis or Sports Injuries don’t just affect the joints, it can be in the soft tissue around muscles and bones. Bursitis is a common condition that involves inflammation of the elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle or most often the shoulder.
Let’s take a look at why Bursitis occurs. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a bone and other moving parts: muscles, tendons, or skin. Bursae (the plural of bursa) are found throughout the body. Bursitis happens when a bursa becomes inflamed (redness and increased fluid in the bursa).
Bursitis is frequently caused by overuse or direct trauma to a joint. Bursitis may occur at the knee or elbow; for example, from kneeling or leaning on the elbows longer than usual on a hard surface. This condition occurs more often with age. The body becomes less flexible with age, and therefore, more prone to injury. People such as carpenters, gardeners, musicians, and athletes who perform activities that require repetitive motions or place stress on joints are at higher risk for bursitis.
An infection, arthritis, gout, thyroid disease, and diabetes can also bring about inflammation of a bursa, so speak to your physician about the symptoms and make sure to get a proper diagnosis.
The most important thing to do for treatment is to focus on healing the injured bursa. The first step in treating bursitis is to reduce pain and inflammation with:
- Rest
- Compression
- Elevation
- Anti-inflammatory medicines or natural supplements that reduce inflammation
Ice may also be used in acute injuries, but most cases of bursitis are considered chronic, and ice is not helpful. When ice is needed, an ice pack can be applied to the affected area for 15–20 minutes every 4–6 hours for 3–5 days. Longer use of ice and a stretching program may be recommended by a health care provider. Activity involving the affected joint is also restricted to encourage healing and prevent further injury.
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Online Chat Discussing Osteoarthritis & RA
May 14, 2009
In May the nationally ranked Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases are presenting two free live online health chats to the public. Both web chats will feature Cleveland Clinic physicians and will last for 60 minutes. They will allow users to submit questions to the doctors to get answers during the event.
On Tuesday, May, 19, at noon (EST) Elaine Husni, MD, MPH, will discuss diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
On Thursday, May 28, at noon (EST) Peter Brooks, MD, and Viktor Krebs, MD, will discuss joint replacement and resurfacing options in the knee and hip.
To see a complete list of all upcoming online health chats from Cleveland Clinic, please visit us at
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/webchats
Don’t miss these free live chat events with specialists in arthritis and joint replacement options
Temporary Relief for Arthritis Joint Pain
April 28, 2009
In addition to medications and supplements there are many methods to provide temporary or short term relief for joint pain flare ups. These methods also help make it easier to exercise. Discuss these methods with your doctor before starting.
- Moist Heat - Use hot packs, warm towels, a bath or shower for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day. Talk to your doctor or therapist about deep heat from short waves and ultrasound. Deep heat can not be used however can not be used on acutely inflamed joints.
- Cold - Try a bag of ice or even a frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to reduce swelling for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Caution, people with Raynaud’s phenomenon should not use this method.
- Hydrotherapy - Exercise in a pool can decrease the pain and stiffness because it takes the weight off your joints. Some people find that the heat and gentle movement of whirlpools are good at relieving joint pain.
- Mobilization Therapies - These include traction (gentle, steady pulling), manipulation (using the hands to restore normal movement to stiff joints) and massage. When done by a professional physical therapist or massage therapist these can help control joint pain add joint motion and provide muscle and tendon flexibility.
- TENS - In TENS (trancutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), electrodes are placed on the skin and an electrical shock is transmitted through them. These machines can be costly, ranging from $80 to $800. The treatment is time consuming, yet the unit can be worn throughout the day and turned on and off during the day.
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