As a gradeschooler, I regularly watched black and white reruns of The Andy Griffith Show. My favorite character was Aunt Bee.
Her main priority was taking care of the family. I remember one scene where Aunt Bee informs Andy their cousin “got bursitis” and she needs to help her out for a few days.
I remember fervently running to the dictionary to find out about it. I was fascinated by the definition of bursitis.
I also had a sense of relief because I wouldn’t be able to “get bursitis” until I was much older.
What exactly is bursitis?
Around most of your joints you have a type of customized padding. This padding is known as bursa. The plural form is bursae.
The padding or sac is filled with fluid which cushions your joints when you move them. Ultimately, the bursa takes the pressure off your joints.
According to the Nemours Foundation, you can actually develop butt bursitis from sitting on something unpadded for an extended period of time.
Bursitis can be either chronic or acute. The U.S. National Library of Medicine stated “Chronic inflammation can occur with repeated injuries or attacks of bursitis. Bursitis can be caused by chronic overuse, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or infection. Sometimes the cause cannot be determined.”
Areas where bursitis commonly occurs include:
• Shoulder
• Knee
• Elbow
• Hip
• Achilles tendon
• Feet
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine symptoms include:
• Stiffness and achiness when you move the affected joint
• Swelling, warmth or redness over the joint
• Joint pain and tenderness when you press around the joint
The Nemour’s Foundation recommends the following at-home therapies if you suffer from bursitis:
• Avoid pressure. Avoid placing pressure on the joint. This will aggravate bursitis rather than help it to heal.
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen may help.
• Elevation. Raising a joint that is swollen for any reason can help to reduce swelling. That goes for bursitis, too. If possible, elevate the affected joint so it is above the level of the heart.
• Heat. Putting heat on the joint when it is no longer warm to the touch can reduce the pain. As with ice, don't apply heat for more than 20 minutes at a time.
• Ice. Ice should be used on the bursitis while the inflamed area is still warm to the touch. Ice can be applied several times a day for up to 20 minutes. Icing the area will also help to lessen the swelling that can occur with bursitis.
References:
Bursitis. KidsHealth - the Web's most visited site about children's health. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/bursitis.html
Bursitis - PubMed Health. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved July 12, 2012, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001456
Reviewed July 12, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith