Index
Among all the structures that make up the human body, some are small in size, but giant in responsibility. Such are the bursae, without which it would not be possible to move the joints normally. In today’s article, everything about bursitis, which occurs in the hips, shoulders, knees and elbows and compromises the daily lives of those affected by it.
What is Bursitis?
Bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial pouch (bursa) – a structure composed of liquid located next to the joints, tendons, muscles and bones. Its function is to dampen the pressure between two moving surfaces, contributing to the sliding of the fabrics.
There are hundreds of bursae throughout the human body. However, its inflammation usually occurs near joints that perform repetitive movements , especially that of the shoulder, hip, elbow and knee.
The bursae on the knee and elbow are located just below the skin. In these cases, there is a greater risk of trauma that leads to inflammation. Bursitis can be acute, more common, or chronic, usually related to other injuries of the past, capable of leaving the bursa thick for a long period.
Causes of Bursitis
The most recurrent cause of bursitis is the repetition of movements in joints or positions that can damage the bursae. Some situations are:
- Kneeling for long periods
- Sitting on hard surfaces for a long time
- Support yourself on your elbows
- Playing sports that require a lot of lifting of the arms
People of any age can develop bursitis. However, some risk factors increase the incidence of inflammation: aging, playing sports, professions that require repetitive effort and other medical conditions, such as diabetes , rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Trochanteric Bursitis (Hip)
Trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa that is located in the lateral portion of the hip . It has the role of providing protection between the lateral thigh muscle and the most prominent region of the femur, called the greater trochanter.
Symptoms and Causes
Women are more affected by hip bursitis, whose symptoms are pain in the side of the thigh , with irradiation to the knee and buttock. The discomfort worsens when feeling the area and lying down.
Simple activities, such as getting up from a chair, getting out of the car and going up and down stairs get complicated and dramatically accentuate the pain. There are some common factors for this problem:
- Long-term pressure on the greater trochanter, caused by lying in the same position for a long time
- Overload resulting from physical activity
- Bruising of the region, after some fall
- Hormonal changes, especially after menopause
- Gynecoid hip shape (the popular breeches)
Other causes of trochanteric bursitis may be related to some pre-existing diseases , such as thyroid pathologies and fibromyalgia . Aging is also a risk factor: the older you are, the more prone to inflammation.
Shoulder Bursitis
Shoulder bursitis occurs when the subdeltoid subacromial bursa, located next to the shoulder joint, is inflamed. Often, this type of bursitis is associated with shoulder impingement syndrome , when in addition to the inflammation of the bursa, the muscles that pass through the subacromial region still have tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons).
Symptoms and Causes
Shoulder bursitis causes pain throughout the region, especially in the upper part. The patient has difficulty raising his arm above his head and muscle weakness. In some cases, there is a tingling sensation that radiates throughout the arm.
The most recurrent cause of bursitis in the shoulder is the excess of the joint precisely because of the repeated elevation of the arm – case of volleyball athletes and painters, for example. In addition, a sudden movement, such as lifting a heavy object without sticking to the posture, can also be the reason for this disease.
Knee Bursitis
In total, each knee has 11 bursae. Either is susceptible to developing inflammation. However, bursitis of the knee occurs more often on the kneecap or on the inner side of the knee .
Symptoms and Causes
The symptoms of bursitis in the knee vary with each patient and always depending on which bursa has a problem. The affected area tends to become hot, swollen and cause pain when feeling or moving.
Most cases of this bursitis are also the result of repetitive injuries sustained in work or sports in which you often kneel. There are still recurrent causes of bursitis in the knee:
- Direct blows in the region
- Falls / friction on the knee
- Sprains from the practice of exercises, such as jiu-jitsu
- Complications from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout
Another reason for knee bursitis is obesity. Excess weight requires more effort from the knees and other joints.
Elbow Bursitis
Elbow bursitis is also called olecranial bursitis, due to the bony prominence called olecranium, which gives the elbow its pointed shape. The bursa is located exactly in this region: at the tip of the elbow.
Symptoms and Causes
Usually, the first symptom seen is swelling . The skin behind the elbow is loose, which is why small changes may not be noticed at first. However, as the swelling continues, the bursa begins to stretch, causing pain – variable but intense, limiting movement. There may still be redness at the site.
Elbow bursitis has very similar reasons to other bursitis. Are they:
- Direct trauma in the region
- Prolonged pressure on hard surfaces
- Repetitive movements in certain work or sporting functions
- Complications from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or gout
Elbow bursitis dramatically prevents elbow flexion . Therefore, the use of an appropriate elbow should help to minimize discomfort.
Diagnosis of Bursitis
The rheumatologist should be consulted. He begins the investigation with a physical examination that aims to identify the injured joints . The patient’s history and a conversation about his lifestyle are also important.
Subsequently, blood and imaging tests are requested. A simple X-ray is not able to identify bursitis, but it eliminates other pathologies. The most required are ultrasounds and magnetic resonances.
Treatment of Bursitis
At first, the rheumatologist will recommend some measures, such as rest, cold compresses and prescription painkillers. In many cases, this treatment is already sufficient for bursitis, regardless of the affected region.
If the inflammation is caused by infection, antibiotics are prescribed. In addition, physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises in the affected area preclude the recurrence of the disease.
More severe conditions are indicated for puncture, in order to empty the liquid content of the bursae. Surgery is only recommended in cases where no other treatment results.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
