HEALTH COULD BURSITIS BE CAUSING YOUR JOINT PAIN?
More than 9.4 million Americans suffer from bursitis, pain occurring when the bursae — a fluid-filled, saclike cavity that prevents friction in the joints — becomes inflamed.
Though most common among athletes, bursitis can affect anyone at any age. With over 150 bursae in the body, it’s no surprise that many people experience it.
Bursitis most frequently occurs near joints experiencing regular, repetitive motion, such as the hips, shoulders, and the elbow; however it can affect knees (also referred to as housemaid’s or clergyman’s knee), heels, and even the base of the big toe. With athletes, bursitis can be the result of inadequate stretching or joint overuse, which creates friction over the bony surfaces of the joints.
“Absolutely anyone and everyone can have a problem with bursitis,” says Elizabeth Dulaney-Cripe, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with Kettering Health Network. “Patients come in with a sore hip or their knee is sore, but they don’t know what happened to cause it or when it occurred.”
There may be no bruising or swelling with bursitis, and pain can persist past a workout or increase when pressure is applied to the affected area. “The form of bursitis pain you experience can vary,” says Dr. Dulaney-Cripe. “It may be sharp in the joint or surrounding tissue, or it could be an achy, sore feeling during movement.”
Treatment
If you’re experiencing this kind of pain, you can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory. Dr. Dulaney-Cripe notes, “stretching is key, but you can apply ice or heat, whichever feels better.”
If you’ve experienced bursitis before, stretching is the best prevention and treatment, especially before repetitive activity. The tighter your tissues are, the more prone you’ll be to injury.
If the pain persists, it may be time to see your physician, who may prescribe physical therapy or injections to manage the inflammation and pain. Surgery is rarely recommended, and when it is, typically it’s only for the shoulder.
“Even with treatment, bursitis can come back,” says Dr. Dulaney-Cripe. “Usually, it recurs when you don’t follow the proper activity guidelines to prevent it.”
Prevention
Prevention begins with stretching and doing a thorough warmup before starting your activity. A warmup is most effective when it includes a lighter-intensity version of whatever activity you’re going to do. Walkers should walk lightly or do a light jog with some stretching. Swimmers should swim a lap or two, then get out of the pool and stretch well before continuing.
Varying your exercise can help too. If you’re a runner, do something different like Pilates to minimize the repetitive stress on the joints. To further reduce risk, don’t sit for long periods of time and use cushions to protect joints when kneeling or putting pressure on elbows.