What is bursitis?
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a fluid sac found in many locations in the body, usually near joints. Its function is to reduce friction between muscles, tendons, bones. The ending “-itis” in medical term refers to a condition that is characterised by inflammation. Common areas affected by bursitis are the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee.
What Causes bursitis?
There are many causes for the inflammation of bursa, for example: direct trauma to the area, overuse or repetitive use injury, suboptimal joint movement, secondary to tendinopathy, prolonged sustained pressure to the area, and in some cases, it can be related to underlying systemic conditions. At times, multiple factors combine to contribute to bursitis.
What is the treatment?
The usual treatment for bursitis consists of resting and icing in the affected area. This should be accompanied by addressing the contributing factors that cause bursitis in the first place. For example, if a bursa in the knee is inflamed due to a direct impact to the area, the knee should be rested and any further impact or pressure to the area should be avoided. However, if the contributing factor of the knee bursitis is related to overuse, or tendinopathy, these underlying factors need to be addressed accordingly through different approaches. Additionally, in the early stages, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used for pain relief and reducing inflammation, however, these should be done under the guidance of your medical doctor or pharmacist.
Will corticosteroid injection treat bursitis?
Typically, corticosteroid injection to the bursa is reserved for cases where other conservative treatments have not been effective. The goal of corticosteroid injection to the inflamed bursa is to reduce any inflammation and provide pain relief. It is important to note that usually there is an analgesic component in the injection that may cause a very short-term pain relief. However, there are cases where corticosteroid injection provides a short-term resolution of the pain, only for the pain to return after several weeks, if not days. This may be related to unresolved underlying contributing factors causing the bursitis. Initial treatment of bursitis is aimed at resolution of inflammation and pain, while for long-term resolution or preventing re-aggravation, we need to address the underlying factors that caused bursitis in the first place. This requires a detailed individual assessment, as we are all unique, but may include stretching of tight structures, strengthening weak muscles to address any imbalances and correcting biomechanical factors.
If you need help to determine the underlying cause of your bursitis and addressing it, you can reach out to us on 03 9859 5585 or book an appointment online.