Everything You Need to Know About Shoulder Bursitis

Did you know that humans have around 160 bursae in their bodies? When you overuse them or put a lot of pressure on them, they might wear out. But guess what? They try to fix themselves by filling up with fluid to create more cushioning. That's when you start to notice swelling and pain in the affected area, and that's called shoulder bursitis

Bursitis happens when the small, fluid-filled sacs called the bursae get swollen. The bursae helps the smooth movement of the bones in your joints and are like tiny cushions between the bones and soft tissues. You can find them in places like your shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip. If the bursa in your shoulder gets inflamed, that's called shoulder bursitis.

Causes of Shoulder Bursitis

The shoulder bursa is the largest in the body and can get overworked easily. This happens a lot to people who do activities that make them use their shoulder joints repeatedly.

You might be more likely to get shoulder bursitis if you do things like carpentry, building, painting, tile laying, playing musical instruments, gardening, or sports like football, baseball, or basketball. Basically, any activity that makes you lift heavy things above your head can do it.

Other Risk Factors of Shoulder Bursitis

Some pre-existing medical conditions may also cause the bursa to swell. You may be at risk of getting shoulder bursitis if you have:

• Diabetes 
• Arthritis 
• Gout
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Uremia
• Thyroid disease

Symptoms of Shoulder Bursitis

If you have shoulder bursitis, you'll notice pain in the shoulder. Depending on the type and severity of bursitis, the pain may be a dull ache, sharp pain, or mild tenderness.

Other signs of shoulder bursitis include:

• Warmth and swelling at the site
• Shoulder stiffness
• Painful movement of the arm
• Pain when lying on the affected shoulder
• Sharp pain when lifting hand overhead

If you have a fever and notice redness in the area of pain, you might have an infection. You must go to see a doctor right away to prevent complications.

Types of Shoulder Bursitis

• Chronic Bursitis: This is the most common type of bursitis. It develops over time due to repeated irritation of the bursa. If you have diabetes or other conditions that make your bursa swell, you're more likely to get chronic bursitis. 
• Acute Bursitis: Also known as Traumatic Bursitis, this is the least common type of bursitis. It occurs suddenly from a trauma or injury. Athletes are prone to having this type of bursitis.
• Infected Bursitis: This is a more serious type of bursitis. As you might guess from the name, it happens when the bursa gets infected with bacteria. The bacteria can spread and cause even bigger problems.

How to Know You Have Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis can be tricky to diagnose because it shares similar symptoms with other shoulder injuries like shoulder subluxation. So, it's important to give your healthcare provider all the details of your medical history to help them figure out what's going on. 

They'll probably do a physical exam and might order some tests to get a better understanding of what's causing your pain and how bad the inflammation is. X-rays and MRI scans are common tests, but if they suspect an infection or gout, they might need to drain some fluid from your bursa and test it.

How to Treat Shoulder Bursitis

Home Treatments for Shoulder Bursitis

• Resting well and avoiding activities that can worsen the swelling will help you heal faster.
• You may be asked to wear splints or braces to limit shoulder movement.
• Using ice packs or cold compress on the affected area will provide relief for the swelling and pain.
• Taking medications such as pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs will ease pain and swelling.

Non-surgical Treatments for Shoulder Bursitis

• Your doctor may give you steroid injections or pills to reduce pain and swelling
• Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if they've confirmed an infection.
• Physical therapy will strengthen muscles and improve the joint's range of motion.

Surgical Treatment for Shoulder Bursitis

Surgery is rarely needed to treat bursitis. But when symptoms get worse or don't improve over time, usually between 6 to 12 months, your healthcare provider may have to do surgery for you. 

The surgeon may make small incisions on your skin and insert surgical instruments to remove damaged tissues that may be pressing on the bursa. They may also remove inflamed bursa to create space for the tendons to move. After surgery, you'll need rest and physical therapy to heal faster.

Visit Lancaster Orthopedic Group to Treat Shoulder Conditions

If you think you might have shoulder bursitis, it's super important to get checked out by a qualified orthopedic specialist. Catching it early and getting the right treatment can help prevent bigger problems and ensure a full recovery.

At Lancaster Orthopedic Group, our team of experienced physical therapists is dedicated to providing comprehensive care for all shoulder conditions, including bursitis. We offer various treatment options to get you back to your favorite activities as soon as possible.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Our friendly staff is available to answer your questions if you have any. We look forward to helping you achieve perfect shoulder health.

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