What is Bursitis?
A bursa is a thin, fluid-filled sac that separates muscles from bone and from each other, providing near frictionless motion as these tissues move. There are bursae all over the body. Normally there is a minimal amount of fluid in a bursa, but with stress, injury, or overuse, the bursa can become inflamed and filled with excessive fluid. This is referred to as "bursitis" and can be quite painful. Bursitis is associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other rheumatic diseases, hypothyroid, diabetes, and other medical conditions.
▪ Outer hip (Greater Trochanteric Bursitis)
▪ Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
▪ Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis)
▪ Front of the Knee (Prepatellar Bursitis)
▪ Above the Knee (Suprapatellar Bursitis)
▪ Under the Shoulder Blade (Subscapular Bursitis)
Diagnosis is usually fairly easy with examination, which is confirmed with Diagnostic Ultrasound. Tendinopathy and bursitis can be associated with one another, and are often mistaken for one another. Many cases that are presumed to be bursitis are later proven to be caused by a degenerative, damaged tendon. Fortunately, both conditions respond well to treatment.
Physical Therapy, manipulation, and massage may be helpful. Anti-inflammatory medication can provide some relief. If conservative measures fail, corticosteroid injection can frequently result in a long-term resolution. Many connective tissue conditions, including bursitis, can be stimulated to heal with regenerative medicine injection techniques if they fail more conservative approaches. The stretched-out bursa sac and also any nearby tendon degeneration can be healed using Prolotherapy or Platelet-Rich Plasma injection techniques.