Bursitis
In this condition factsheet:
Diagnosing Bursitis
Before making a diagnosis of bursitis, a number of possibilities need to be ruled out. Muscle injuries, joint injuries, local internal bleeding, synovitis (inflammation within the joint), and cellulitis (skin infection) can all cause bursitis-like symptoms. Your doctor may ask you to take tests for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
If the area is hot, red, and noticeably swollen, your doctor may want to take a sample of fluid from the bursa with a needle. This sample will then be tested for causes of inflammation (e.g., gout or infection). It's vital to know if the bursa is infected, because the standard treatment for non-infectious bursitis does not treat infection and in some situations may suppress the immune system.
Magnetic response imaging (MRI) or ultrasonography can be used to help diagnose bursitis in a deep bursa. X-rays are done to identify a problem in an underlying joint when bursitis does not improve with therapy or keeps coming back.
Treating and Preventing Bursitis
A mild bout of bursitis that is not caused by bacteria is usually treated with rest or a splint, ice packs, ibuprofen* or other anti-inflammatory medications. If a bacterial infection occurs, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics for treatment. Physiotherapy treatments like ultrasound may be helpful.
If these treatments don't work you may be given an injection of corticosteroids mixed with local anesthesia. These medications are injected directly into the bursa. The injection can cause local side effects, such as acute reaction, infection, and bleeding. The injection usually causes fewer, if any, of the side effects that can occur from corticosteroids taken by mouth.
Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatories that usually reduce the inflammation, though often only temporarily. If corticosteroid injections don't help, the same medication might be given in pill form. It’s important to discuss the benefits and risks of corticosteroids taken by mouth because of the more serious risks of side effects from oral corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are not given to people with bacterial infections, which are treated with antibiotics.
When you are recovering from bursitis, it's important to exercise the joint's full range of motion so that you do not end up with a contracted joint. Your doctor or physical therapist will give you a detailed plan, depending on which joint is used and the amount of muscle loss.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Bursitis
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