Bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursa (bursae), which are the lubricants and cushions around the joints. Bursae themselves function to reduce friction between bones and tendons during movement. Well, bursitis occurs when bursae become inflamed.
The most common areas of the body where bursitis occurs are the shoulders, elbows, and hips. However, you can also experience bursitis in your knees, heels, and the base of your big toe. Bursitis often occurs near joints that frequently experience repetitive movements.
If you have bursitis, the treatment that can be done is to rest the affected joint and protect it from further trauma. In most cases, bursitis pain can disappear within a few weeks with proper treatment. The thing to watch out for, that recurrence of bursitis is also very possible.
Symptoms of Bursitis
The symptoms that arise in sufferers can vary from one another. However, generally, the symptoms of bursitis are:
- Painful.
- Limited movement.
- Swelling and redness if the inflamed bursae are close to the surface of the skin.
Chronic bursitis may occur repeatedly. Starting from pain, swelling, and tenderness. It can cause muscle damage and limited range of motion in the affected joint.
Different types of bursitis also have their own specific symptoms:
- Prepatellar and olecranon bursitis, it may be difficult to bend the leg or arm.
- Trochanteric and retrocalcaneal bursitis can cause difficulty walking.
- Trochanteric bursitis can cause pain when lying on the hip.
Causes of Bursitis
Bursitis is caused by repetitive motion injuries to the muscles and joints, as well as the tendons around the bursae. For example:
- Repeatedly bend and straighten the elbow.
- Lifting weights that put your shoulders at risk.
- Excessive walking or running can put your ankles at risk.
- Rest your knees or elbows on a hard surface.
Activities that can cause bursitis include:
- Carpentry.
- Gardening or sweeping.
- Paint.
- Having poor posture or poor joint or bone position. For example, due to different leg lengths, bone spurs, or arthritis.
- Rubbing.
- Shoveling.
- Sports such as tennis, golf, and baseball.
In addition to repetitive movements, injuries can also occur due to falls or impacts. When bursae are injured, the tissue inside is at risk of irritation that leads to inflammation and swelling.
Bursitis caused by bacteria is called septic bursitis. In addition to pain, sufferers of septic bursitis symptoms will experience additional symptoms. For example, in the form of skin damage in the area of inflammation, cellulitis or infection of the inner layer of the skin, and high fever to chills.
In addition to injury and bacterial infection, bursitis can also arise due to complications of diseases. For example, rheumatoid arthritis or inflammation of the joint lining due to a faulty immune system, gout, ankylosing spondylitis or long-term arthritis in the spine, and scleroderma or a disease that causes hardening of the skin.
It should also be noted that bursitis is divided into several types, namely:
- Prepatellar bursitis.
- olecranon bursitis.
- Trochanteric bursitis.
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis.
- Infectious (septic) bursitis.
Bursitis Risk Factors
In fact, bursitis can occur due to many things. Some of the risks that can cause it include:
- Have a low immune system.
- Having an alcohol addiction.
- Having HIV/AIDS.
- Having kidney problems.
- Having diabetes.
- Have undergone chemotherapy treatment.
In addition to the risk factors above, the following risk factors can also occur:
- Age. Bursitis is common with aging.
- Occupation or hobby. If your occupation or hobby requires repetitive movement or pressure on certain bursae, your risk of developing bursitis increases.
Diagnosis of Bursitis
When someone is suspected of having bursitis, the doctor will do several things to confirm it. The doctor will perform an external examination of the body that is experiencing pain, and ask about physical activities that are carried out.
In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic tests for bursitis are also necessary, namely:
- X-ray.
- MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging )
- Ultrasonography (USG).
- Aspiration.
- Blood test.
Bursitis Treatment
Most cases of bursitis do not require hospitalization and can be cured through home care. The time it takes for the disease to heal completely depends on the cause and location of the inflammation. Generally, symptoms of pain can disappear within a few weeks. However, swelling usually takes longer.
To relieve pain, sufferers can take medication. In addition to medication, there are actually several simple ways that can be done to relieve swelling, namely:
- Apply an ice pack to the bursitis area for 10-20 minutes, repeating this every few hours.
- Do not stand for too long if bursitis occurs in the hips, knees or ankles.
- Support the area affected by bursitis when sleeping, for example with a pillow, to help reduce inflammation.
- If bursitis occurs on one side of the body, avoid sleeping on your side with the surface of the mattress directly touching the painful area.
- Using protective equipment on the swollen joint to avoid secondary injury that could worsen the condition, such as knee pads.
For cases of bursitis caused by bacterial infection, doctors will usually prescribe medication to prevent the growth of bacteria. In severe cases, bursitis can be treated in the following ways:
- Aspiration. This is a method of suctioning bursa fluid that aims to reduce pain and restore joint mobility.
- Bursa removal surgery. This procedure is usually performed on septic bursa that does not respond to treatment with antibacterial drugs.
- Anti-inflammatory and pain medications, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
- Steroid injections into the affected area to help reduce pain and swelling.
- Using a splint or brace to limit movement of the affected joint.
- Antibiotics.
Bursitis Prevention
While not all types of bursitis can be prevented, you can reduce the risk and severity of a recurrence by changing the way you do activities. For example, by:
- Use knee pads. Use some type of padding to reduce pressure on your knees if your activity requires a lot of kneeling.
- Lift objects correctly. Bend your knees when lifting.
- Take frequent breaks.
- Maintain ideal body weight. Being overweight will put a lot of pressure on the joints.
- Exercise. Strengthening muscles can help protect affected joints.
- Warm up and stretch before doing heavy activities to protect joints from injury.