Bursitis

The bursae in your hips, knees, elbow, shoulder, and other joints usually become inflamed because of frequent repetitive motions. These motions irritate the sac over time, causing it to swell. For example, you may develop bursitis in your shoulder after throwing a baseball repeatedly. If you kneel on the floor for long periods of time, you may develop bursitis in your knee.

Certain factors may increase your risk of bursitis. Some of these factors include:

• Age

• Certain occupations or hobbies that require repetitive motions

• Certain medical conditions that affect your joints, such as gout or diabetes

If you have bursitis in any joint, you may notice:

• Aching

• Stiffness

• Redness

• Pain that increases with pressure on the area

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The pain from bursitis may come and go, depending on how much strain you put on the affected joint.

The providers at Rochester Integrated Medicine approach the treatment of bursitis with a variety of minimally invasive therapies. Some of the treatments we may recommend for patients with this condition include:

• Joint manipulation to resolve any problems with alignment

• Interferential electrical muscle stimulation

• Corrective exercises to strengthen and stabilize the joint

• Lifestyle changes to prevent recurrence

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In most cases, we recommend more than one treatment to patients with bursitis. We always customizes every treatment plan to meet the needs of the individual patient.

With the right treatment plan, most patients are able to recover from bursitis quickly. However, to speed up your recovery and reduce the risk of future problems, it’s important to follow your recommended treatment plan closely. Putting too much strain on the joint before healing is complete can lead to a relapse.