Bursitis

Bursitis is inflammation or irritation of a bursa sac. These sacs are all over your body surrounding joints and they’re filled with fluid that acts as a cushion between bone and muscle, skin or tendon. The type of bursitis depends on where the affected bursa is located. This soft tissue condition is common in adults, especially after age 40. It is usually caused by repeated pressure on an area or by using a joint too much.

Symptoms

One of the most common symptom of bursitis is pain. It can occur slowly or be sudden and severe. The pain may last for days or longer. Other symptoms of bursitis include swelling, redness and tenderness in areas around a joint. Bursitis can also happen in the same area more than once.

Causes

Bursitis is caused by sports injuries or repetitive movements. However, bursitis can also be caused by:

• A bruise or cut getting infected
• Bad posture or walking habits
• Stress on soft tissues from an abnormal or poorly positioned joint or bone
• Arthritis such as gout, pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease) or rheumatoid arthritis
• Metabolic conditions such as diabetes or thyroid disease

Treatment

Rest is the primary treatment for bursitis. You should avoid any activity to prevent further injury and give the area time to heal. Apply ice to affected area to help reduce inflammation. If bursitis doesn’t go away, a rheumatologist can help with a specialized treatment plan.