From Joint Pain to Recovery: Bursitis Treatment in India

Bursitis treatment

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, or small fluid-filled sacs that envelop the joints, tendons, and muscles. It usually impacts the shoulder, elbow, hip or knee and is mostly caused by repeated movements, pressure, injury or even infection.

Best bursitis treatment

The most appropriate intervention in bursitis is based on the disease type (infectious and non-infectious) and the affected joint (shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, and so on), as well as severity (acute and chronic).

The following is a breakdown of what works best:

Best Treatment of Non-Infectious (Most Common) Bursitis

• Rest and activity correction - discontinue or change the activity that caused the bursitis.
• Ice & NSAIDs – first line is Ice packs + non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen, naproxen).
• Physical Therapy -Stretching and strengthening to alleviate the pressure on the bursa.
• Corticosteroid Injection- To treat long-lasting pain/swelling, an urgent choice.
• Gives relief within days to weeks.
• Protective Support- Knee pads, elbow pads or shoes with padding against pressure-related bursitis.

Best Treatment of Septic (Infected) Bursitis 

• Antibiotics- Oral or IV antibiotics depending on the culture.
• Aspiration/Drainage - The use of a needle to get out infected fluid.
• Surgery (uncommon) - When the infection does not resolve, bursectomy (removal of the bursa).

Overall Best Approach

• Mild bursitis: Ice, NSAIDs, rest and physical therapy.
• Chronic/recurrent bursitis: Physiotherapy + corticosteroid injection.
• Infected bursitis: Antibiotics +, unless necessary, drainage.

Bursitis treatment in India

The following is a straight forward bursitis treatment:

Self-Care/ Conservative Treatment

• Rest: Do not do things that make the pain worse.
• Ice therapy: Ice packs can be used to minimize swelling by applying ice packs with intervals of 15 to 20 minutes per day.
• Compression & elevation: In the knee/elbow, when there is bursitis, the bursa can be alleviated by compressing the area and keeping the limb elevated.
• Over-the-counter painkiller: NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) are capable of helping to decrease pain and inflammation.
• Protective padding: Cushions or kneeling pads in case of pressure induced bursitis (e.g., prepatellar bursitis).

Medical Treatment

• Physical therapy: Light exercises to recover mobility and make the muscles surrounding stronger.
• Corticosteroid injections: In case of chronic inflammation a physician can inject steroids into the bursa.
• Antibiotics: In case of bursitis (septic bursitis).
• Aspiration (drainage): Swollen (infected or severe) bursae can require the use of a needle to drain.
• Surgery (rare): Chronic, intractable bursitis, which does not respond to alternative therapies, may need surgical excision of the bursa (bursectomy).

Lifestyle & Prevention

• Exercise should be preceded by warming up and followed by stretching.
• Sit with proper posture in order to minimize stress on joints.
• Modify activities to prevent repetitive strains.
• Apply ergonomic aids at work or in the everyday duties.
• Use tight fitting shoes in case bursitis attacks hips, knees, or feet.

Bursitis pain relief

As bursitis pain may be sharp, burning, or aching according to the joint, here are the most effective methods of relieving it:

Home & Self-Care Pain Relief

• Rest the joint: Do not force the joints into positions that would make them hurt.
• Ice packs: use 15 to 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day on flare-ups.
• Heat therapy- Once the first 48 hours are over, the stiff muscles around the joint can be relaxed with the use of heat compresses or heating pads.
• OTC pain medications: Ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen lower the level of pain and inflammation.
• Light stretches: Range-of-motion exercises will aid in preventing stiffness (only in cases of pain permitting it).
• Support/Padding: Pressure can be reduced with cushions, knee/elbow/pad, or orthotics.

Medical Pain Relief

• Corticosteroid injections: These are very effective and have a quick action in recalcitrant cases.
• Physical therapy: Builds more muscles around the joint, which relieves pressure on the bursa.
• Fluid drainage (aspiration): This may help to reduce pain caused by swelling in the event that the bursa is highly inflamed.

Natural Remedies for Relief

• Tumeric (curcumin): Natural anti-inflammatory.
• Ginger and omega-3-foods: Could help to reduce inflammation.
• Epsom salt soak (soothing bursitis of the elbow/knee/hip): Warm soak can be used to relieve pain.

Shoulder bursitis treatment

Shoulder bursitis (also known as subacromial bursitis) occurs as a result of inflammation of the bursa between the shoulder blade and the rotator cuff tendons. The lifting of the arm, reaching overhead or lying on the shoulder causes pain.

The following is a breakdown of the treatment of shoulder bursitis:

Self-Care & Home Treatment

• Rest/activity change: Do not lift overhead, reach repetitively or sleep on the affected side.
• Ice techniques: 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times per day in order to inhibit swelling and pain.
• Heat therapy: Once the initial 48 hours are completed, apply warm compresss to relieve stiffness.
• OTC analgesics: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen to treat pain and inflammation.
• Posture correction: Shoulders should not be tense and slouching should not be done.

Medical Treatment

Physical therapy:

• Light stretching exercises to avoid stiffness.
• Rotator cuff and shoulder blade muscle strengthening exercises.
• Corticosteroid injection: Instant, concentrated pain treatment in case of a failure of conservative therapy.
• In ultrasound, aspiration (unusual): Fluid draining in case of swelling is severe.
• Surgery (last resort): Arthroscopic bursectomy or acromioplasty of chronic, severe cases.

Recovery Exercises (performed on pain)

• Pendulum swing: Bend forward, and hold the arm and swing in circles.
• Wall crawl: Stand on the wall and slowly learn to walk your fingers on it.
• Resistance band rotator cuff: Strengthens rotator cuff.

Hip bursitis treatment

Hip bursitis (also frequently referred to as trochanteric bursitis) is a condition occurring as the bursa of the outer hip bone becomes inflamed. It is painful on the hip outer part, which is aggravated by walking, stairs, or lying on that side, or by long-standing.

The following is a straight forward guide to the treatment of hip bursitis:

Self-Care & Home Treatment

• Rest/activity alteration: Do not walk, run or lie on the affected hip.
• Ice therapy: Use 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day in the case of a flare-up.
• Heat: Warm compresses are used within the first 48 hours to soothe the muscles.
• Analgesics: NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) to treat swelling and pain.
• Comfortable sleep: Slip a pillow between the knees when you are on your side to relieve hip pressure.
• Weight control: Eases the burden on the hip joint.

Medical Treatment

Physical therapy:

• IT Band stretching (IT band, hip flexors, glutes).
• Exercise (strengthening exercises- gluteal, core muscles).
• Corticosteroid Injection: Pain relief- This is quick and specific to chronic pain.
• Shockwave therapy (occasionally used): This is used to treat chronic bursitis.
• Aspiration (uncommon): Draining of fluid in the event of high swelling.
• Surgery (extremely uncommon): Bursectomy (removal of bursa) in case of chronic and disabling pain.

Recovery (Begin with gentle) exercises

• Hip bridges: Strengthens but does not put pressure on hip.
• Clamshells: Makes outer hip and stabilizers stronger.
• IT band stretch: Cross leg behind the other and bend.
• Quadriceps stretch: While standing, draw ankle to buttock to stretch the thigh muscles.

Bursitis treatment in India with GetWellGo

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