Nothing can slow down your active life quite like bursitis. Those nagging aches and pains in your joints can be mildly annoying to off-the-charts painful. Just ask those suffering from this condition, and they’ll tell you that it’s something you definitely don’t want. Certain types of folks are more susceptible to this painful condition, but no one is truly immune. Fortunately, bursitis can be prevented. For those already suffering from it, there is treatment.
Naples area residents desperately seeking relief from the blasts of bursitis pain should contact the Bursitis treatment experts at NCIC. Don’t suffer; treatment and prevention suggestions are within your reach.
What Is Bursitis?
In a nutshell, bursitis is painful swelling around a joint. All joints are subject to developing this condition, but it’s more typical to affect knees, elbows, and shoulders. The body’s joints are surrounded by a small, fluid-filled sac called a bursa. Inflammation of the bursa is what we call bursitis. Our bones and joints are surrounded by bursa, which acts as a cushion of protection. However, once overworked, it can cause some problems.
When a bursa is overused, it becomes swollen and irritated. Once inflamed, the entire surrounding area can become painful, which is especially obvious around a joint. Normal range of motion can become limited, and movement can be quite painful. The cause of bursitis is usually overuse of a joint or putting far too much pressure on it.
Symptoms and Most Common Causes of Bursitis
The symptoms of bursitis are easily recognized. Sufferers typically feel pain when moving the affected part with a limited range of motion. For example, someone suffering from bursitis of the elbow, known as olecranon bursitis, will experience pain radiating from the affected elbow and can also have difficulty fully extending and retracting the arm.
Most bursitis sufferers have this condition due to overusing a certain joint or extremity. Anyone employed in a job that requires long hours of repetitive motion is at risk of developing this condition. House painters and carpenters are highly vulnerable to bursitis due to the nature of their work. Athletes, such as baseball players and golfers, often develop bursitis. This can affect professionals and also novices.
Bursitis Prevention
For those with a history of daily repetitive movements, either as a part of your job (painters, carpenters) or as a part of your hobby (sports enthusiasts, musicians), the best thing you can do to prevent bursitis is to take frequent breaks. Avoiding the repetitive movement that could help to develop or aggravate bursitis may or may not be possible and will depend on your career or how much time you devote to your hobby. However, taking adequate breaks is key to preventing bursitis.
Other effective means to the prevention of bursitis include:
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Frequent exercise to keep your body strong
- Using protective equipment like kneeling pads to protect joints
- Learn the proper techniques to lift heavy objects
- Maintain good posture at all times
Bursitis Treatment
For the occasional bursitis flare-up, several home remedies could ease the pain and swelling associated with this painful and limiting condition. Popular home remedies include:
- Resting the affected joint
- Apply ice for the first 48 hours to help reduce swelling
- After 48 hours, switch to dry heat, such as a heating pad
- Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can help to relieve pain and inflammation
For more severe or chronic issues, chiropractic care can greatly help sufferers of all types of bursitis. After an evaluation of your condition, a licensed chiropractor can recommend treatments that can help relieve pain and inflammation but can also help to prevent bursitis from returning.
- Chiropractic adjustments - A chiropractor can help to restore a joint’s alignment, which will help to reduce pain and inflammation while helping to restore a full range of motion
- Physical therapy - Physical therapy can help to improve flexibility around the affected joint while increasing muscle strength
- Pain management - A chiropractor can determine the best non-invasive strategies for easing the pain of bursitis
Strategies for Bursitis Prevention and Treatment: Final Thoughts
Bursitis can be a painful condition. Unfortunately, the more you continue to use the affected body part, the more trouble it will cause you. However, by following some rules and making lifestyle changes, you can help prevent bursitis from affecting your job, hobby, and life in general.
Rest is key to prevention and also for treatment. When rest, ice, heat, and over-the-counter medications no longer provide relief, chiropractic care, and pain management can help reduce inflammation and lessen or eliminate the pain that comes with this condition. Chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy could be just what you need to get you back on track and pain-free.