What Causes Shoulder Bursitis and How to Treat It?

What Causes Shoulder Bursitis and How to Treat It Bursitis is a common musculoskeletal condition that is one of the major causes of shoulder pain. Shoulder bursitis, also called the impingement syndrome, is a condition where inflammation occurs in the bursa, or the fluid-filled sac between the humerus, or arm bone, and the acromion, or the shoulder tip.

Some people have this space becoming too narrow for the tendons to slide smoothly. This irritates the bursa and the tendons, causing their inflammation and swelling. This further reduces the space for movement, which leads to the bursa and tendons being pinched as they move between the bones. This causes impingement or bursitis. At Comprehensive Healthcare Group on Long Island our practitioners are experienced in treatment of this condition.

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Common Causes and Symptoms of Shoulder Bursitis Shoulder bursitis can occur as a result of injury to the shoulder, such as the shoulder hitting against a hard object or bearing the impact of a fall. Lifting a heavy object and moving it, or throwing a ball could also cause bursitis.

Some people have a rheumatic condition that causes this inflammation of the bursa. Their bones are shaped in such a manner that they have much lesser space in the area around the bursa than other people. This causes inflammation to occur more easily.

The symptoms of shoulder bursitis are usually pain or swelling in the affected area along with tenderness. Pain usually occurs when the tissues in the area move. Pinching pain is experienced when the individual moves the elbow beneath the affected shoulder away from the body. Diagnostic means to identify bursitis include X-ray and MRI scanning.

Treatment Options for Bursitis There are many nonsurgical bursitis treatment options. The first step is to reduce the inflammation by avoiding actions such as stretching or reaching out, which could cause pain and further irritate the bursa and the tendons. This can be accompanied by anti-inflammatory medications which can work at reducing pain and swelling. In most cases, these measures could be sufficient enough to deal with shoulder pain caused by bursitis. Physical therapy after the treatment can help the individual to be fully fit for normal activities.

If these measures don’t succeed in eliminating the pain, a cortisone injection or steroid shot may have to be applied to the swollen area. This can be administered by an Orthopedist. The cortisone injection, however, treats the swelling and not the pain. So pain killers and physical therapy are advisable to reduce pain and improve strength and range of motion. Repeated cortisone injections are also dangerous since they could weaken the tendons.

Sometimes, the condition could be severe enough to require surgery to remove the inflamed bursa, part of the bone, and spurs to ensure greater space for the movement of the tendons.

Our physical medicine and rehabilitation center at Valley Stream and Oceanside location are experienced in shoulder bursitis treatment through non-surgical and alternative treatment methods.

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