Bursa Injections for Pain Relief | What is Bursitis?

Bursitis is a fairly common condition that occurs when a bursa becomes swollen and inflamed. A bursa is a small sac that is found in various joints throughout the body including in the hips, knees, shoulders, and elbows. Their purpose is to provide a cushion between the tendons and bones, acting as a shock absorber to friction. Unfortunately, many people suffer from repeated episodes of bursitis during the course of their lifetime. The good news is that there are treatments that can help, including bursa injections.

Causes of Bursitis

Bursitis is often considered a repetitive strain injury. This is because it can occur when you perform a certain movement over and over again. Repetitive motions, such as throwing a ball repeatedly, or sawing back and forward, put pressure on the joints, causing the inflammation that characterizes bursitis.

People who are overweight, who fail to warm up or cool down properly, and who suffer from problems with their joints may be more likely to suffer from episodes of bursitis during their lifetime.

Symptoms of Bursitis

The most common symptom of bursitis is pain. Patients will experience a dull, achy pain in the affected joint that may get worse when you try to use it. You may also notice that the area seems warmer than the surrounding skin, and it may look red and inflamed.

Treating Bursitis at Home

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to alleviate bursitis at home. These include:

Rest – Your doctor will recommend that you try and rest the joint as much as possible, as this will help to prevent further inflammation from occurring. You should try not to move the joint too much and avoid any repetitive movements that could irritate it.

Ice packs – Using ice is a great way to help reduce inflammation and ease your discomfort naturally. Wrap an ice pack in a clean cloth and hold it against the affected area for around 10 minutes, repeating as necessary to find some relief.

Pain medication – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications are a very effective way of reducing inflammation and keeping you comfortable.

What are Bursa Injections?

Although there are some things that you can do to reduce the symptoms of bursitis yourself at home, many patients who experience the condition regularly are recommended to consider bursa injections.

Bursa injections are designed to reduce inflammation in or around the bursa by injecting a small dose of corticosteroid and local anesthetic into the affected area. The injections themselves are a fairly quick procedure with the area being numbed before the needle is inserted. The entire appointment should last less than two hours depending on your individual circumstances.

Bursa injections start to take effect very quickly, with many patients noticing improvement in their symptoms within a few hours of treatment. Exactly how long the effects last can vary between patients, but most people can achieve relief from their symptoms for up to six months following their injections.

Am I a Good Candidate for Bursa Injections?

Good candidates for bursa injections are typically people who have not responded well to at-home therapies for joint pain. These can include people with the following conditions:

Arthritis
Bursitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tendonitis
Tennis elbow
Golfer’s elbow
Other inflammatory diseases

If you aren’t sure if you are a suitable candidate for bursa injections, our team will be happy to help.

If you would like more information about bursa injections, or to schedule an appointment to talk to us about this treatment, call Alicja Steiner, MD APC in San Diego, California at (619) 304-1539.