Bursitis is a condition that affects the bursae, the small sacs filled with fluid that are found around the joints. These sacs help to cushion your muscles, tendons, and bones. When bursitis sits in, these bursae become inflamed. The condition can be quite painful, and it can make it difficult to move the joint.
Which Joints Are Affected?
The bursae near any joints can become inflamed, but typically, this condition is limited to the shoulder, hip, and elbow. However, it’s possible to develop bursitis in the knee, the heel of your foot, and even at the base of the big toe. You are more likely to develop bursitis around the joints that you use to make repetitive motions. For example, if your job involves bending your elbows repeatedly throughout the day, you’re more at risk of developing bursitis there than in your knees.
Symptoms of Bursitis
The symptoms of bursitis are typically not severe, but they are noticeable. In addition to the pain, you may find that the joint feels stiff and that it hurts when you move or apply pressure to the area. You may also find that the joint feels swollen and has a reddish color to it.
If you find that the pain becomes so bad that you cannot move the joint, that the swelling has become excessive, or that you experience sharp pains when moving, you need to see a doctor. Also seek medical attention if you have a fever or notice a rash around the joint.
How Is Bursitis Treated?
If you suspect you have bursitis, we will first do an X-ray to look at the joint. We may also need to do a blood test or draw fluid from the bursae to determine the cause of the pain. Once that is done, we can move on to treatment. In most cases, bursitis clears up on its own if you simply take the time to rest. In other cases, you may need physical therapy to help build up the muscles around the joint. Corticosteroid injections can help relieve the inflammation and the pain, too. These injections are fairly common for bursitis in the hips or shoulder.
Are you suffering from bursitis or think that may be the cause of your pain? The team at Maximum Orthopedics can diagnose the condition and treat it. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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Posted on: Apr 27 2021
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By: admin
Are you in need of physical therapy? One mistake many people make is putting off getting the right kind of help when they’re injured. Physical therapy can often greatly reduce your recovery time and even prevent permanent damage or chronic pain. Here are some signs that you need to consider physical therapy.
The Pain Recures
Pain is a sign that something isn’t right with your body, so if that pain becomes recurring, it means you still have an injury or damage from an injury. If you find that you have pain in the same area that comes and goes or is almost always present, you should seek out a physical therapist as soon as you can.
You Hurt After Several Days
If you find yourself still in pain days after the injury, it means that your body isn’t able to heal itself. Once you’re injured, you should take several days to rest, ice the injury, and keep it elevated. However, if the pain hasn’t gone away or isn’t greatly reduced in intensity after several days, you need to have a physical therapist evaluate it.
You’re Relying on Over-the-Counter Medication
Taking medication for pain right after the injury and for a few days after it occurs is normal. However, you shouldn’t need to continue taking medication for much longer than that. If you find yourself taking pain medication regularly, it’s a sign that the injury is worse than you thought.
Your Range of Motion or Abilities Have Changed
You know what your body is capable of, and you know when you aren’t physically able to perform your best. If you find that the injury has reduced your range of motion or is preventing you from doing activities that you can normally do with no problem, you need medical attention. If you don’t get help, it’s possible the damage will become permanent.
The Injury Resulted in Acute Pain
In many cases, common injuries that occur from playing sports or exercising result in a fairly dull pain. It throbs, but it isn’t acute or sharp pain. If you did feel a sharp pain when you injured yourself, it can be an indication that you tore a ligament, pulled a muscle, or even fractured a bone. These are more serious issues that need medical care.
Do you need to see a physical therapist about an accident? If so, the team at Maximum Orthopedics can take care of you. Contact us today to make an appointment.
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Posted on: Apr 15 2021
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By: admin
