Bursitis Pain Management Specialists
Bursitis
Condition Overview
Your joints have a lot of work to do — in order to keep that work from causing you pain, you have bursae. Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs located near your joints and act as a cushion between them and your bones, tendons and muscles. This helps reduce friction and allows smooth, comfortable movement. When these sacs become irritated or inflamed, the condition is called bursitis. Bursitis occurs most often in the most frequently used joints — shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.
Bursitis can sometimes be confused with other conditions that also cause joint pain and inflammation like arthritis, tendonitis and certain infections. This confusion can occur because these conditions share similar symptoms like swelling, tenderness and limited joint movement.
Because bursitis pain symptoms can vary widely in intensity, accurate diagnosis is crucial to determine the specific cause of joint discomfort and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Symptoms of Bursitis
The primary symptom of bursitis is persistent pain in the affected area, often described as dull and achy with varying levels of discomfort. This pain worsens during activities involving movement or pressure on the affected area.
Other common symptoms include:
- Radiating pain or discomfort extending from the affected area to nearby regions
- Muscle tightness or stiffness around the affected joint that limits mobility and comfort
- Weakness or numbness in nearby areas due to pressure on nerves
- Changes in movement patterns or posture
Diagnosis of Bursitis
When you come to our pain specialists suspecting bursitis, they’ll start by asking detailed questions about your medical history before conducting a physical exam. They look for signs like pain, swelling and limited movement around the sore joint. They might press gently on the area to find tender spots that could indicate an inflamed bursa.
Sometimes, doctors use special tests like ultrasounds or MRI scans to take pictures of the swollen area. These tests help confirm if there’s inflammation or fluid buildup in the bursa. Doctors can plan the best treatment by ruling out other possible causes and understanding how serious the problem is. In rare cases where there might be an infection, they might also take a small fluid sample from the joint to check for bacteria.
Treatment Options for Bursitis
Conservative treatments like rest, ice, physical therapy and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications are typically the first things suggested as treatment for bursitis. If these measures don’t provide sufficient relief for your bursitis, there are other pain treatment options available at Nura:
- Medication Management
- Physical Therapy
- Bursa Injections
- Peripheral Nerve Blocks
Real people, real stories
I am so grateful!
In June 2017, Joyce was diagnosed with bursitis in her right hip, managed with cortisone injections until the condition progressed to bone-on-bone arthritis. Faced with the choice between living with the pain or surgery, she opted for a hip replacement in June 2019. However, her pain persisted despite normal MRI and CT scans. After consulting multiple doctors, she underwent a revision surgery in October 2020. Unfortunately, the pain returned in January, but with no answers.
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Find Pain Relief
Schedule an appointment with one of our pain specialists by filling out our appointment request form or giving us a call at 763-537-6000.
