The mainstay of treatment of bursitis is to control inflammation. These steps can help address inflammation, which subsequently will reduce the symptoms of bursitis. Seldom is surgery necessary to address bursitis, although that may be a treatment option for people in rare cases.
People who struggle with persistent or recurrent bursitis often place continued stress on the area, not allowing the affected area to heal. Like many overuse conditions, bursitis typically responds well to a short period of rest. However, in some patients, further treatment is necessary. That said, everyone should start by trying to rest an inflamed bursa before pursuing medications, injections, or other more aggressive treatments.
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Ice can typically be applied frequently, just about as often as you might want. It is important to not ice for more than about 15-20 minutes at a time, and then to take a break of at least that long to allow the skin to warm. Icing for too long at one time can lead to skin damage and even frostbite. A light cloth may also be used to protect the skin from direct contact with ice.
There are possible side-effects of cortisone, and as with any invasive treatment, typically this step is only taken after simpler treatments have failed to provide adequate relief.
Physical therapy can also include various modalities and treatments to help reduce inflammation. Your physical therapist can help to alleviate the inflammation before beginning an exercise program that can help to improve joint mechanics.
Alternate repetitive tasks with breaks. Don’t perform one activity continuously for hours at a time. Limit the amount you are going to do in a given timeframe, and stick to that.
While this is most common with kneecap bursitis, and people who have to kneel while working, this is also true of elbows and hips where pressure directly on the bursa can lead to exacerbation of symptoms.
Protective padding can help to ensure that forces are not applied directly to the bursa. For people who perform work activities with abnormal pressure directly on the bursa, recurrent inflammation of the bursa can become a problem.
