BURSITIS

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a pad of soft tissue. They are relatively small stuctures situated in areas where friction or pressure is likely to exist as a result of one structure moving over or compressing another.

Structurally they are a smooth, fluid filled sac. They can themselves become inflamed because of excessive pressure or activity. They then tend to give a constant aching pain over the area. They are also tender to touch.

If they become chronically inflamed, often by ignoring the symptoms and working through the pain, they can be very difficult to resolve. A classic example of it being so much better to listen to your body, get a diagnosis and deal with the acute inflammation than attempt to resolve a deeply engrained stubborn problem.

Treatment

Rest and anti-inflammatory physical therapeutic techniques work well. A gradual increase in activity after the soreness has settled is all that is really necessary to regain full function.

Constant re-occurrences may respond to an injection of cortico-steroid by a specialist. Failing this, surgery to remove the inflamed bursae is an option. My experience of surgery is that it can take a long time for the soreness to completely settle post operatively.

Common sites for bursitis are:

SHOULDER

ELBOW

HIP

KNEE

ANKLE