What to Do About Bursitis

If your joints ache and hurt, do you have arthritis? Not necessarily. While arthritis is common in joint pain patients in the United States, especially in older populations, many cases of joint pain actually end up being due to bursitis.

In this inflammatory condition, the cushioning, fluid-filled sacs called bursae that pad your joints swell, causing pain and loss of range of motion.

At Integrated Spine & Pain Care, our team, led by practice president and board-certified interventional pain management specialist Dr. Mikael Sarij, can diagnose your bursitis and recommend a customized treatment plan to resolve the underlying cause and relieve your joint pain symptoms.

Here’s what we want new and existing patients who come to our offices in Farmingdale and Deer Park, New York, to know about dealing with bursitis.

What is bursitis?

Your joints have to be able to swing and slide smoothly to provide your full, free range of motion. Cushioning bursae are a key part of that functioning. Your bursae allow the tendons, muscles, and bones of your joints to move without grinding or friction.

Many factors can overstress your bursae. Repetitive use of a single joint is a common culprit, and bursitis can be a complaint for workers and athletes who have to repeat the same motions frequently. You’re more likely to develop bursitis if you’re obese, or if you’ve been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes.

When bursitis develops, the inflammation in your stressed bursae causes swelling and loss of function. Moving your joint becomes both difficult and painful. In addition to sharp pain, swelling, and joint stiffness, bursitis can result in redness in the affected area.

Unlike arthritis, pain and loss of motion from bursitis are due to swelling on the outside of the affected joint. This differs from arthritis-related swelling that takes place within the affected joint.

Putting together your treatment plan

If you think you might have bursitis, come in to Integrated Spine & Pain Care for a diagnostic exam. Dr. Sarij can confirm your bursitis and help you get the treatment you need to restore your joints and resolve your joint pain.

Without treatment, bursitis can lead to symptoms like an uneven gait due to bursitis of the knees or hips. You need professional evaluation and treatment to support your joint health and function.

Once Dr. Sarij has diagnosed your bursitis, our team works with you on a plan for your relief. Conservative treatment options that can effectively address bursitis pain are rest, over-the-counter pain relief medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Motrin® or Advil® (ibuprofen), and ice pack therapy.

Dr. Sarij may also recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint. And, you might need to make lifestyle changes to lose weight or reduce repetitive stress. Bursitis is likely to recur, so it’s essential to get a handle on the problem the first time around.

In severe cases of bursitis, you may need targeted steroid injections to relieve inflammation in your bursae, or even surgical treatment to drain or remove inflamed bursae.

For diagnosis and treatment of your joint pain and potential bursitis, get in touch with the team at Integrated Spine & Pain Care today. You can schedule your visit at one of our locations over the phone or request an appointment online.