How many people get bursitis

Posterior Achilles tendon bursitis. This type of bursitis, also called Haglund deformity, is in the bursa located between the skin of the heel and the Achilles tendon. This attaches the calf muscles to the heel. It is aggravated by a type of walking that presses the soft heel tissue into the hard back support of a shoe. Hip bursitis. Also called trochanteric bursitis, hip bursitis is often the result of injury, overuse, spinal abnormalities, arthritis, or surgery.

This type of bursitis is more common in women and middle-aged and older people. Elbow bursitis. Elbow bursitis is caused by the inflammation of the bursa located between the skin and bones of the elbow the olecranon bursa.

Elbow bursitis can be caused by injury or constant pressure on the elbow for example, when leaning on a hard surface. Knee bursitis. Bursitis in the knee is also called goosefoot bursitis or Pes Anserine bursitis. The Pes Anserine bursa is located between the shin bone and the three tendons of the hamstring muscles, on the inside of the knee.

This type of bursitis may be caused by lack of stretching before exercise, tight hamstring muscles, being overweight, arthritis, or out-turning of the knee or lower leg.

Kneecap bursitis. Also called prepatellar bursitis, this type of bursitis is common in people who are on their knees a lot, such as carpet layers and plumbers. Bursitis is also associated with other problems.

These include arthritis, gout, tendonitis, diabetes, and thyroid disease. The following are the most common symptoms of bursitis. However, each person may experience symptoms differently. Chronic bursitis may involve repeated attacks of pain, swelling, and tenderness. These may lead to the deterioration of muscles and a limited range of motion in the affected joint. The symptoms of bursitis may resemble other medical conditions or problems.

Always see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. In addition to a complete medical history and physical exam, diagnostic tests for bursitis may include:. A diagnostic test that uses invisible electromagnetic energy beams to make pictures of internal tissues, bones, and organs on film. Magnetic resonance imaging MRI.

When a person has bursitis, these bursae become inflamed, making movement or pressure on the area painful. Overuse, injury, or inflammation from gout or rheumatoid arthritis may cause bursitis. Tennis elbow is one type of bursitis. In this article, we detail the parts of the body in which a person may experience bursitis, the symptoms of the condition, and how to treat it. People may refer to specific forms of bursitis by other names.

A person may be able to treat their bursitis at home with the help of over-the-counter OTC treatments and some self-care techniques. Although most cases of bursitis are treatable at home, a person with severe bursitis may require prescription medications.

The doctor may inject steroids into the affected area to relieve the symptoms. Steroids block a chemical in the body called prostaglandin, which causes inflammation. However, doctors should prescribe steroids with care. These drugs may raise blood pressure and increase the risk of getting an infection if a person uses them for too long. This may result in doctors missing the optimal time frame for some surgical procedures.

If a fluid test confirms a bacterial infection, the doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. They will generally recommend oral antibiotics, but a person may need to take them intravenously in more severe cases. A person with bursitis may have one or more of the following symptoms :. Septic bursitis occurs when an infection causes bursa inflammation.

A person with septic bursitis may have the following additional symptoms:. Many people treat bursitis at home, but if the symptoms are more severe, they should seek medical help.

More severe symptoms include :. Bursitis can result from an injury, an infection, or a preexisting condition such as gout, which can cause crystals to form in a bursa.

Physical trauma can irritate the tissue inside the bursa and cause inflammation. Treatment depends on the cause. For bursitis caused by overuse, treatment includes: rest pain relief with ibuprofen Advil, Motrin, or store brand or naproxen Naprosyn, Aleve, or store brand protecting the area with pads for example, knee pads for kneeling or a cushion for sitting on a chair avoiding positions and activities that press on the area for example, cutting a slit in the heel of shoes to prevent pressure on the heel applying ice wrapped in a towel or a heating pad for about 15 minutes a few times a day whichever gives more comfort exercises, stretches, or physical therapy PT injection of medicine into the bursa Can Bursitis Be Prevented?

To lower the risk of bursitis: Play different sports to prevent doing the same motions all year. Use knee pads or a seat cushion when kneeling or sitting for a long time. Use proper technique for sports. Always warm up and stretch before and after sports.