How does bursitis happen? The bursa cushions the tendon; therefore it suppresses friction between the tendon and the bone.
Extensive repetitive motion of the arm, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle, along with constant rubbing of the tendon over the bone, can lead to enough friction of the bursa itself to cause the inflammation and irritation of the bursa; this condition is known as bursitis. Even a person who throws a ball too many times in one situation can commence this friction in the shoulder or elbow.
Bursitis also happens when compression of the bursa occurs regularly, such as when person sleeps on his/her side and causes undue pressure on their shoulder or hip.
What are the common areas of bursa inflammation? The most frequent tendon areas that suffer inflammation are the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and heel.
Of course, bursitis varies with every individual, as the condition affects the areas that each sufferer uses and thus irritates the most.
What are the symptoms of bursitis? Symptoms of bursitis can range from an achy pain and joint stiffness to a burning that surrounds the entire joint surrounding the inflamed bursa. With this condition, the pain is usually worse during the course of and following activity, and the bursa and surrounding joint area generally stiffen the day after.
How do you treat bursitis? Those who properly care for an anatomical area affected by bursitis will feel a lessoning of the pain within a three-week period; even after this time period, the healing of the area continues and doesn't peak until at least six weeks following the injury that caused the condition. This is due to the formation of scar tissue, which initially acts like the adhesive that bonds the tissue back together. Scar tissue sometimes will continue to form past the six week period in some cases and as long as a year in more severe cases.
After six months this condition is considered chronic, thus treating it becomes more difficult. The initial approach to treating a bursitis is to support and protect the bursa by bracing any areas of the tendon that are pulled during use; this will prevent bursa friction.
It is important to loosen up the tendons, alleviate the pain, minimize bursa inflammation, and reduce the compression that can occur when one sits or lies down.
When sleeping, you can reduce the pressure of bursitis by using a softer bed topper such as a memory foam mattress pad or a new mattress composed of memory and/or latex foam.
Memory foam and latex foam reduce compression because they are the only substances that conform to the bumps and curves of the body; thereby they reduce the pressure spot by more disbursing the bodily weight on a more even-handed basis. You also can reduce and soothe bursa inflammation and pain topically, if a pain reliever has the ability to penetrate the skin barrier and contains anti-inflammatory agents. A topical formula that contains natural menthol will not only relieve pain, but also dilate the blood vessels. This relieves the bursitis, without bringing about any stiff tissue. MSM, also known as Methyl Sulfonyl Methane, is a natural supplement that is garnering much notice due to its role in tissue healing at a cellular level.
It is a natural organic sulfur that originates from rainfall and naturally from the human body. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on tissues. Read all about Glucosamine and MSM for more information regarding this special supplement.
Ice also can alleviate inflammation, but will constrict the blood vessels and thus bring stiffness to the joint.
Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation, but are very caustic and can prompt a weakening of the tissue structure and create more scar tissue in the process.
After the scar tissue has begun to accumulate, it will be important to perform procedures which help break down the scar tissue in the tendon tissue, so as to rebuild flexibility within the tendon and muscle and reduce the chance of additional injuries. Sure, exercise can break down scar tissue once the area has healed, but may bring further irritation to the affected area during the initial stages of healing. Therefore, other methods that can be performed by your healthcare provider, such as ultrasound and massage, may be more effective in accomplishing healing during the earliest stages of an injury.
Ultrasound uses sound waves that vibrate at a quick level, that it cannot be felt with normal use. Ultrasound will cause an increase in circulation to the tissue and soften the scar tissue, allowing it to further break down.
Ultrasound can also be used as phonophoresis to help solutions meant to help topical pain and nutrient solutions reach farther down into the tissues by transporting them via the sound waves. In terms of exercise, light stretches might be performed if they do not cause additional irritation to the injured area.
Prevention of bursitis requires stretching the muscle regularly, thereby lengthening the tendon connections surrounding the bursa. This will permit reduced friction to the tendon/bursa/bone connection.
As mentioned previously, reducing the compression with sitting or lying down is crucial for helping to keep the bursa from losing its natural lubrication and permitting the bursa friction to occur more easily. When bursitis does occur, it is important to treat it immediately, and thereby prevent it from reaching a stage that is even more severe.
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