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Bursitis
Moveable joints (articular joints) are surrounded by one or more bursa sacs. If a bursa sac becomes irritated, it can become inflamed and lead to an arthritic joint pain condition known as bursitis.
Choose from the topics or joint pain locations below for peer reviewed articles on bursitis symptoms and treatments
Explore bursitis treatments that can ease pain and swelling and prevent the condition from becoming chronic. After treatment, prevention strategies can stop bursitis from flaring up.
The cause of knee bursitis is often obvious—such as frequent kneeling or a one-time trauma. Other times, the underlying cause is less apparent.
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Elbow (Olecranon) Bursitis
Elbow bursitis can cause the elbow to look swollen and feel tender. Elbow bursitis occurs when the bursa at the tip of the elbow becomes inflamed and fills with fluid. The medical name for this condition is olecranon bursitis. Septic bursitis, in which a bursa is infected, is common at the elbow.
Elbow bursitis is caused by inflammation in the olecranon bursa, which may be the result of repetitive pressure on the elbow, previous injury, infection, or an underlying condition, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
Elbow bursitis causes noticeable swelling at the elbow and is often easy to diagnose. However, determining whether the bursa is infected (septic bursitis) or not is more challenging and may require additional evaluation and testing. Additional testing may include a fluid aspiration of the bursa.
Swelling is the hallmark symptom of elbow bursitis, but elbow pain, tenderness, and other symptoms may also be present. If the skin is red and hot, or if the person has a fever, the bursa may be infected. Septic bursitis requires prompt medical attention.
A swollen elbow may be caused by elbow bursitis, and the best treatments are often rest and a change in activities. Other treatments, such as wearing elbow pads, taking medications, or getting injections, may also be recommend. If the elbow bursa is infected—a condition called septic bursitis—antibiotic treatment will be necessary.
Read about the two types of bursitis can cause heel pain and swelling, what causes them, and what medical conditions are associated with them. Both retrocalcaneal and calcaneal bursitis of the heel may take 2 or 3 weeks to fully treat.
Heel bursitis may be caused by everyday choices and habits. Certain medical conditions, an infection, or a past trauma can increase the risk of retrocalcaneal and calcaneal bursitis.
