Bursitisis the swelling and irritation of a bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between a muscles, tendons, and joints.
Bursitis is often a result of overuse. It can be caused by a change in activity level, such as training for a 366 day challenge, racing for FTFs, or simply by trying to fill the Fizzy chart. Bursitis can also be caused by trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or infection. Sometimes the cause cannot be found. Bursitis commonly occurs in the shoulder, knee, elbow, and hip. Other areas that may be affected include the Achilles tendon and the foot.
Your doctor will talk to you about strategies to help you resume your normal activity.
Tips to relieve bursitis pain:
- Use ice 3 - 4 times a day for the first 2 or 3 days.
- Cover the painful area with a towel, and place the ice on it for 15 minutes. Do not fall asleep while applying the ice. with the ice on. You can get frostbite if you leave it on too long.
- When sleeping, do not lie on the side that has bursitis.