Bursitis can be caused by repetitive or acute trauma or a combination of the two. Treatment for bursitis is the same whether it developed as a repetitive stress injury or not.
Finding the Cause
The first step in treating / preventing bursitis is understanding what caused it. Many general causes of repetitive stress injuries can be contributing factors for bursitis. Performing repetitive flexing, bending or twisting at a joint also heightens your risk of developing bursitis in that area. Bursitis may also be caused by infection.
Use the method outlined in Things to Do if You've Been Diagnosed with a Repetitive Stress Injury to identify the tasks causing the pain. Using a Visual Analog Pain Scale will help pinpoint the major and minor causes.
Stopping the Stress
The next step in your treatment / prevention of bursitis is to stop performing those tasks or correct your body mechanics when you do.
- Use sound ergonomic equipment and setups.
- Ensure you stay within the comfortable range of motion of the joint.
- Keep muscular control over the entire motion being performed. Do not let things just flop around.
- Do not stress the joint with particularly heavy or unbalanced loads.
- Avoid side loading the joint. In other words keep the motion of the limbs in line with each other.
- Do not place a static load on the are of concern. Keep things moving. Even sitting for a while places a static load some where.
- Cushion the joint when possible. Use knee pads when kneeling and other pads on shoulders when carrying loads on them.
Maintain a Healthy Body
You need to stay healthy and fit. Maintain a healthy weight. Strong bodies are more resilient against the stressors that cause these conditions.
Maintain good cardiovascular health. Good blood flow to the affected area is crucial for healing. Blood carries fuel to the cells and carries waste away. Features like the bursa do not receive a lot of flow as it is, so they need all the help they can get to recuperate.
Playing with different muscles than those you work with can also provide relief to an ailing joint.
Home Treatment
Home treatment options for bursitis include:
- Resting the area
- Icing the joint to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow
- Using over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the swelling and manage pain (Warning: only use pain medication at times of rest to reduce the chance of further injury)
- Exercise to strengthen the injured area once symptoms have been reduced
Professional Treatment
When preventative and home treatment measures are not enough your health care professional may recommend these treatments. Only follow these treatments when instructed to by a health care professional. Treatments include:
- Immobilize the joint
- Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the swelling and manage pain
- Antibiotics to fight infection
- Draining fluid from the bursa
- Cortisone injection to treat the inflammation
- Physical therapy and exercise to strengthen the injured area
- Surgery
Surgery is a last option for treatment of bursitis Chronic bursitis can cause lumps at the bursa that need to be removed.
References:
1. WebMD. Arthritis: Bursitis. Retrieved August 20, 2006.
