Bursitis - Natural Remedies

Bursitis

This is the inflammation of one or more bursae (small sacs) of synovial fluid in the body. The bursae rest at the points where internal functionaries, such as muscles and tendons, slide across bone. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless functional gliding surface making normal movement painless. When bursitis occurs, however, movement relying upon the inflamed bursa becomes difficult and painful. Movement of tendons and muscles over the inflamed bursa aggravates its inflammation, perpetuating the problem and muscles can become stiffened.

The common stinging nettle is a good remedy to prevent and relieve the symptoms of bursitis.

What is bursitis?

Bursitis is an inflammation of a bursa (singular) or bursae (plural). These are small fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones in joints and minimize friction between them. There are more than 150 bursae in the human body. Bursitis most often affects the bursa at joints in the shoulders, elbows or hips, but can occur elsewhere including the knee, heel and the base of a big toe.

What are the symptoms of bursitis?

Bursitis causes pain, usually characterized as a dull ache or stiffness around the affected area. The pain may get worse as a result of movement or pressure. Sometimes bursitis indicates the presence of an infection that will require antibiotic treatment. If the area feels swollen and is warm to the touch and you notice redness in the skin over the joint you should seek medical advice.

What are the causes of bursitis?

The inflammation that causes bursitis usually stems from an injury due to repetitive use or pressure. For example, bursitis of the shoulder is common among baseball pitchers and "housemaid's knee" is the quaint name for bursitis related to spending too much time kneeling. Repeated physical stress can cause bursitis in the following areas:

Shoulder. This typically occurs after trauma to the rotator cuff, the muscles and tendons that connect the upper arm to the shoulder blade. In addition to repetitive activities (such as throwing a ball), causes may include injuries from falling or lifting.

Elbow. This develops as a result of repetitive bending and extending of the elbow (from such activities as swinging a tennis racquet, but it also can occur from everyday activities such as pushing a vacuum cleaner back and forth). Habitually leaning on an elbow can also be to blame.

Buttocks. Typically, bursitis in the bursa over the bones in the buttocks comes from sitting on a hard surface for long periods, such as you would encounter if you ride a bike frequently.

Hip. This usually stems from osteoarthritis, a hip injury or the pressure from habitually standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.

Knee. With this type of bursitis, you may see a soft, egg-shaped bump on the front of your knee. Repetitive kneeling while scrubbing floors, gardening, laying tiles or engaging in other activities that place pressure on your knees can trigger it. In addition, a sharp blow to the knee can inflame the bursae around the kneecap. You're more susceptible to bursitis of the knee if you have osteoarthritis and are overweight.

Ankle. This usually follows from wearing improperly fitting shoes.

What is the conventional treatment of bursitis?

The first line of treatment for bursitis is to rest the affected area and apply ice to reduce any swelling. The conventional treatment also includes anti-inflammatory drugs, which can be irritating to the stomach.

In some cases, a physician will recommend physical therapy or exercises to strengthen the muscles in the affected area. Occasionally, the bursa must be surgically drained, but only rarely is surgical removal of the affected bursa necessary.

If home care doesn't work, conventional medicine treats bursitis with local injections of corticosteroids. While the shots can work very well to suppress inflammation, they do so at the expense of immune function and don't foster healing. For this reason, these drugs should be reserved only for severe problems.

Posted in: Bursitis