Bursitis Information

Last updated on 20 July 2019 by Danniel Jacques (B.Med.Sci UNSW)

What is Bursitis?

Bursitis Treatment OSMO PatchBursitis is the irritation and inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a small lubricated balloon like sac found throughout the body. These sacs help bones and tendons to articulate and glide over each other by reducing friction and irritation.

The bursae contain a small amount of lubricating fluid within them known as ‘synovial fluid’. These sacs are located around joints and other moving parts of the body, such as the shoulder, elbow, foot, hip, knee and ankle.

The bursae act like cushions while also reducing friction between sliding tendons and bones. Occasionally a bursa will be subjected to ongoing stress or a sudden trauma. When this occurs it usually results in an inflamed bursa that fills with fluid. This condition is known as BURSITIS and can be the cause of considerable discomfort and pain.

What Causes Bursitis?

There are a number of possible causes of bursitis and these include overuse and repetitive strain, a sudden impact injury,  several autoimmune diseases as well as other disorders. In many cases there will already be pre-existing age related degenerative changes in the joint that make an individual more susceptible to inflammation and subsequent episodes of bursitis.

There is an increased risk in developing bursitis for individuals working in some physical jobs or participating in regular sports. This is due to placing repetitive stress and strain on their joints, which increases their risk of developing bursitis. An example of this would be a carpenter developing knee bursitis or a golfer, elbow bursitis.

Identifying the cause of the bursitis is important as this may help with the treatment of the condition. For example, identifying the cause may allow you to eliminate or avoid an activity that initially led to the condition.

What Region of the Body can Bursitis Affect?

What are the Symptoms of Bursitis?

The signs and symptoms of bursitis can vary from individual to individual depending on the degree of inflammation and will normally include localized pain and tenderness.

An extremely inflamed bursa may also result in visible swelling that appears as a lump. Visible swelling is a particularly common symptom of both knee and elbow bursitis that may cause joint stiffness and extreme pain when weight or pressure is applied to that affected joint.

(Diagnosis of bursitis should always be confirmed by a qualified doctor prior to starting any treatment and will often require an ultrasound).

How is Bursitis Diagnosed?

It is always best to visit a qualified medical professional if you suspect that you have bursitis in order to get a proper diagnosis before starting any treatment.

While many areas of bursitis can be assessed by a physical and visual examination it is still best to have an ultrasound to properly confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor may also feel that additional images or tests, such as an MRI, X-Ray and/or blood tests, are required to rule out other possible causes or co-existing conditions.

Next Page: Learn the answers to the most common questions asked about treating bursitis, including:

Testimonials

Real accounts by real people. Hear what they have to say!

Shoulder Bursitis

I had a sudden case of Shoulder Bursitis, in fact, the Orthopaedic Surgeon said it was the most severe and immediate he had seen in years. He gave cortisone shot and Rx Narcotics that barely cut the pain. No sleep as pain worse at night. In my desperation for relief I searched the internet to […]

T. Mule
Colorado, United States
Hip Bursitis

I have used the Osmo Patch for hip bursitis and it worked wonderfully on both hips! Absolutely nothing else worked.

Josephine S
MI, United States
Swollen elbow almost half the size of a tennis bal

In early November, 2008, I was shocked when by chance I looked at my right elbow and saw that it had a swollen lump almost half the size of a tennis ball. I had no recollection of bumping it or otherwise causing damage to it and was really quite surprised because it was painless.   That […]

Brian L
Auckland, New Zealand
Shoulder problems

Hi Toky,  I just received my parcel yesterday Wed Dec. 29th and after following the directions how to apply I put one on and it’s easing the pain in my shoulder. It seems that it’s working for me and I have to be careful to watch the food I am eating. I am quite please […]

JLee-C
Calgary Alberta, Canada
General Bursitis

I have found these patches to be fantastic giving me huge relief. Regards

Jenny
United States
Bursitis of the elbow, knee swelling & leg cramps

My husband healed his bursitis of the elbow with your patches – they are amazing.  He is now using 2 patches on each knee at night for knee swelling.  It seems to give him amazing relief from cramps in his legs that kept him awake throughout every night for years.  He has used everything from […]

Sheila W
Connecticut, United States
Baker's cyst

Hi Just a quick note that I feel I needed to write about the OSMO Patches. In September I tripped over while running and fell on my knee which left me with a fractured bone at the back of my knee which in turn ruptured my cruciate ligament. Although back on track now after various […]

Kim C
South Yorkshire, United Kingdom
General Bursitis

I bought OSMO product hoping it would work for my bursitis.  I am pleased to say it did I am very satisfied.  Could you send me any info you have of other products. Please.   Thank you

Joyce B.
New Jersey, United States
View More Testimonials Disclaimer
Have a Question?
Back to Top