How Serious is Bursitis | What Causes Flare Ups | What’s the Cure?

07 Feb How Serious is Bursitis | What Causes Flare Ups | What’s the Cure?

Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursae at the joints causing musculoskeletal pain.

Since it induces pain at various musculoskeletal sites like the knee, elbow, hip, and feet, it should be distinguished from other pathologies.

For example, bursitis is an entirely different condition when compared to arthritis, fracture, tendinitis, or nerve disorders.

Though it needs orthopedic consultations, it is not severe and can be treated by both surgical and non-surgical methods.

Its treatment options mainly depend on its causes and degree of severity.

Moreover, the basis of its classification is the mode of spread – which could be septic or non-septic.

Out of these two, septic bursitis is often considered a serious medical condition, unlike the non-septic one.

As you go further into the details of bursitis, we will find more about these different types of bursitis and their medical status.

Is Bursitis Serious? – Septic vs Non-Septic Bursitis

Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, a small sac present between two bones or moving parts like muscles, tendons, or skin.

This sac is filled with a fluid that acts as a cushion between the moving parts that prevent friction between bones.

Because of their gliding surface, the movement is easy and painless.

But due to various factors, the bursa can become inflamed causing pain and bursitis.

The degree of defining how serious is bursitis is based on the factors behind this inflammation, which classifies bursitis in two divisions:

• Infected bursitis – Induced by microbial infection.
• Non-infected bursitis – Induced by non-microbial agents.

Non-infected bursitis usually responds to non-surgical and easy natural methods of treatment. On the other hand, septic bursitis requires special treatment.

Through our close analysis of bursitis, most health care experts, and orthopedics, septic bursitis is a serious medical condition.

So, yes, bursitis is serious when it is septic.

Can Septic Bursitis Kill You?

Septic bursitis is an infection-induced inflammation of the bursa, and it mainly affects the bursa located just beneath the skin.

Since the superficial bursae are located just beneath the skin, it becomes easy for microorganisms to enter the bursa through cuts, bruises, or scrapes. 

Most of the septic bursitis is caused by the skin dweller, streptococcus.

Though, the signs and symptoms of septic bursitis are not very severe and are common to other types like:

• Pain
• Stiffness at the area
• Swelling and tenderness at the area 
• Reduced range of motion

However, it also shows symptoms like fever, redness, and swelling, which is not common in other forms of bursitis.

Talking about why is septic bursitis serious enough to kill you, when the bursitis is not treated, it could spread to nearby tissues and even bone.

The complications of septic bursitis like permanent enlargement of the affected bursa cause interference with active movement.

But what’s even more dangerous is the initiation of septic shock due to septic bursitis which could lead to death because of:

• Reduced blood pressure
• The collapse of various organs
• Altered mental status

The good news is septic bursitis can be treated just like other types of bursitis with the correct treatment method.

With that said, the next section explores the other types of bursitis.

The Different Types of Bursitis – How Serious Are They?

The two major types of bursitis, septic and aseptic, can be further classified into different types of bursitis based on location.

Bursitis can affect any part of the body, but the most affected areas are the tendon, hips, elbow, and knee.

#1. Anterior Achilles Tendon Bursitis

Also called Albert’s disease, Anterior Achilles Tendon Bursitis is caused because of extra strain exerted on the tendons because of:

• Injury
• Diseases
• Shoes with rigid back support

It is characterized by inflammation of the bursa located in front of the tendon attachment.

#2. Posterous Achilles Tendon Bursitis

It is also called Haglund’s deformity. 

It is characterized by the inflammation of the bursa present between the skin of the heel and calf muscles of the heel.

The most prominent cause of this bursitis is the excess strain on the heels because of pressing on the hardback support of shoes.

#3. Hip Bursitis

These cases are also referred to as trochanteric bursitis and are found mainly in women and middle-aged people.

It is mainly caused as a secondary disorder to arthritis, injury, abnormalities in the spinal cord, and overuse.

“Is hip bursitis serious” – Well, it is a common condition and can be treated easily.

#4. Elbow Bursitis

The inflammation of the bursa present between the skin and bones of the elbow causes elbow bursitis.

What causes elbow bursitis can be an injury or constant pressure exerted on the elbow.

#5. Knee Bursitis

It is also known as goosefoot bursitis affecting the bursa present between shin bones and the tendons of the hamstring muscle.

The bursa is present on the inside of the knee and its inflammation affects the movement of the knee.

What Causes Knee Bursitis?

Some of the common causes of knee bursitis are:

• Not stretching or warming up before exercises
• Tightening of hamstring muscles
• Arthritis
• Obesity 

#6. Shoulder Bursitis

One of the most common bursitides occurs in the shoulders because of fluid accumulation in the bursa.

People with shoulder bursitis often show symptoms of tendinitis.

In shoulder bursitis, the subacromial bursa present between the rotator tendons and acromion are affected.

What causes shoulder bursitis?

Bursitis shoulder often occurs because of overuse or repetitive use of shoulders. For example, in the cases of athletes, painters, carpenters, and builders.

People at risk of shoulder bursitis are people suffering from the following medical conditions:

• Arthritis 
• Gout
• Diabetes
• Thyroid
• Rheumatoid disease

Are these bursitis serious and can they kill you?

No, most of these cases of bursitis are curable and not fatal until secondary infection occurs as in septic bursitis.

For treating bursitis, the very first step is to identify the cause of bursitis.

What Causes Bursitis?

The exact cause of Bursitis is not yet found, but the most common reasons seen by far are:

• Acute trauma – Injuries at the site of the joint can cause inflammation of the bursa causing bursitis.
• Repetitive microtrauma – Chronic overuse of a particular joint can cause microtrauma to become severe and result in bursitis. For example, overuse of shoulders by athletes, carpenters, and painters can cause shoulder bursitis.
• Infection – Bursae located in the superficial regions are prone to infections by microorganisms as they have easy access to the bursae through scrapes and cuts.
• Pre-existing joint inflammation – Bursitis can be a part of pre-existing systemic joint inflammation, such as in the case of arthritis.

Till now, most of the cases of bursitis reported were caused because of trauma or idiopathic causes.

Acute Bursitis can also be caused by:

• Lack of warm-up before exercises
• Starting high intensity exercises all of a sudden
• Unusual pattern of exercises

Chronic Bursitis Causes:

Chronic bursitis is a recurrence of a previously treated bursitis which can be caused by factors like:

• An injury that induced the previous bursitis
• Bursal adhesions
• Deposition of calcium salts on the bursae

Irrespective of the causes, most bursitis is not so severe and is manageable as well as treatable.

But for managing your bursitis, it is important to refrain from indulging in activities that can worsen your condition.

Usually, bursitis in the initial phase is not very severe, and early treatment doesn’t cause much irritation. But as people keep indulging in certain activities, some cases can have flare-ups.

This could lead to severe pain and discomfort.

Here is what you must avoid if you’re already suffering from bursitis.

What Aggravates Bursitis?

Based on what type of bursitis you are suffering from, indulging in activities that exert pressure on the affected bursae can aggravate the condition.

For example:

• Sitting in one position for a longer time
• Lying down
• Walking too long distances
• Playing badminton while suffering from shoulder bursitis
• Exercises

Though not all exercises are bad for bursitis, some might even help in relieving the pain. But the following exercises mostly worsen the conditions.

Exercises – What Causes Bursitis to Flare Up?

Here are seven exercises that you should avoid doing when suffering from any joint bursitis.

In case of hip bursitis, we strictly advise you to not do these exercises, as these prominently have adverse effects on hip bursitis.

#1. Running

It’s a common exercise that has many health benefits but is not advised for people suffering from shoulder, hip, and knee bursitis.

Running exerts a lot of pressure on the knees, hips, and knee that could worsen the pain in the joints.

#2. Pedaling or Bicycling

It mainly affects hip and knee bursitis.

The bicycling position exerts high pressure on the hip while pedaling exerts pressure on the knees. 

This could increase the inflammation in the initial phases, but bicycling during the recovery phase can be helpful.

#3. Squats

Squats focus on the hip region and knee, thus increasing the inflammation.

Though there are various types of squats, none of them can be performed without exerting pressure on these two regions.

#4. High-Intensity Workouts

Workouts involving cardio or exercising on types of equipment like treadmill exert high pressure on the legs, knees, and hips.

They could also affect the shoulder, and hence should be avoided in all types of bursitis.

#5. Lifting Leg Exercises

There are many types of leg lifts like side lifts and straight lifts that engage your knees and hips.

Thus, doing any of these lifts would directly cause your bursitis to flare up, severing the pain and worsening the condition.

#6. Exercises Focusing on One Side of the Body

Hip bursitis and shoulder bursitis are highly affected by performing exercises that involve lifting one side of the body.

Other than this exercise, performing some regular exercises for a longer duration can also aggravate your bursitis.

For example, swimming (not suggested for shoulder bursitis) is helpful in hip bursitis but can aggravate it if done for a longer duration.

Other than exercises, there are also daily chores that you might not find harmful for your bursitis but are aggravating the condition.

Other Activities That Flare Up Bursitis

Some daily activities can also worsen the inflammation of the joint including:

• Gardening – Exerts a lot of pressure on the shoulder and can worsen the condition, for example, activities like shoveling.
• Placing a carpet – Exerts pressure on the shoulders when you place a heavy carpet.
• Playing musical instruments – Heavy musical instrument players are at higher risk of developing bursitis, and it can also aggravate an existing condition.

But yet again, bursitis is treatable both naturally and surgically depending on the severity of the condition.

How to Cure Bursitis Pain Naturally?

There are various ways to cure bursitis pain and fasten its healing process. Some of them are mentioned below:

#1. Resting and Compression

According to doctors, enough rest can help quicken the recovery process when combined with ice, compression, and elevation.

This method is also known as RICE therapy.

However, this is applicable only for the less severe types of bursitis and involves:

• Resting the affected area – This relaxes the inflamed bursa or the affected tendon. The best way to rest the affected area is immobilization, and to achieve that, various methods like slings and crutches can be used.
• The next step is applying ice thrice a day for 15 minutes – It is helpful in reducing swelling in the area for the first three days of bursitis. Post the ice therapy, a heating pad can be used to encourage the blood flow to the area.

For the first two days, you can use a bandage for reducing the swelling. 

In case bursitis is in such a part of your body that can be elevated, elevate the area thrice for 15 minutes to reduce swelling.

Until the swelling subsides, it is advised not to indulge in activities that can worsen the condition.

#2. Acupuncture

It is a therapeutic technique of inserting thin needles into various points of the body. 

These points are points of stimulation for nerves that improve blood flow to the area.

It can also stimulate the release of hormones that quicken healing.

NOTE: Acupuncture is done by specialized doctors and should not be performed by an unskilled person.

#3. Diet and Supplementation

Improving your diet can also help relieve inflammation of the bursa. Infuse your diet with the richness of fruits, veggies, and omega fatty acids.

You can also add the following supplements to your diet for speeding the recovery, after consulting your physician:

• Omega-3-fatty acids – Fish oils and flaxseed oil can provide your body with the extra richness of omega acids. According to studies, these supplements help in treating osteoarthritis pain. It would also help in reducing the inflammation in the bursae. However, it can cause thinning of the blood when used with blood-thinning medications.
• Vitamin C – Helps in the repair of connective tissues but consult your doctor before taking the supplement if you are on medications like chemotherapy drugs.

#4. Herbal Remedies

Many herbal extracts strengthen joints and reduce inflammation. However, many herbs can even interact with medications and cause side effects.

Hence, always consider taking a herbal remedy under the consultation of your doctor.

One of the common herbs used since ancient times for reducing inflammation is turmeric.

#5. Homeopathy

Several homeopathic experts find homeopathic medications helpful in reducing inflammation.

Since these medications don’t have any major side effects, they can be considered as a natural remedy for bursitis.

#6. Chiropractic

Though there are not many studies that claim the effectiveness of chiropractic in bursitis, people have relieved their symptoms with this method.

#7. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy helps boost strength and flexibility around the muscles and tendons affected.

Many physical therapists can help plan routine exercises for the same.

Even massage and heat therapies can be used to reduce inflammation.

Usually, physical therapies are started after the swelling subsides and a range of movement is restored, but it can also depend on the severity of your condition.

Other than the natural treatment option for bursitis, there are also methods using chemicals that can relieve your inflammation and heal bursitis quickly.

What is the Best Way to Treat Bursitis?

Indeed, the best way of treating non-septic bursitis is rest and elevation of the joint, but when it comes to septic bursitis, it becomes a serious condition.

For most cases of septic bursitis, the following methods are used:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: They are also effective for treating non-septic bursitis as they quickly reduce inflammation by reducing the release of prostaglandins. They relieve pain in the bursa and ease your condition.

These medicines are used only for a couple of weeks until your body heals.

The best anti-inflammatory for bursitis is ibuprofen but they should only be used under medical consultation.

Antibiotics for Bursitis:

Antibiotics are used for septic bursitis caused by bacteria like staphylococcus. 

Mainly, bactericidal antibiotics are given to completely eradicate the bacteria.

• Corticoids: These are steroids that quickly reduce inflammation and pain. They can be used as an injection or oral medications. But they involve too much risk and can cause many side effects.
• Surgical procedures: They are rarely used for bursitis and are mainly used during severe emergency conditions.

So, now you know how serious bursitis is and what can be the best treatment options. Here’s a summary for a recap.

Conclusion

What is Bursitis? A common question but with a broad answer that involves mainly the joints between bones or bones and tendons.

They differ from arthritis as they affect the bursa, which are the fluid sacs that act as cushions between bones.

On the other hand, arthritis affects the bones and the cartilages. Bursitis is less severe than arthritis or gout and can be treated naturally.

But in the case of septic bursitis, medications are used as they can be fatal. Other types of non-septic bursitis can recur on indulging in activities that induce primary bursitis.

Hence, once your bursitis is treated, remember not to overstrain your affected joint.

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