Bursitis

Heel bursitis may be diagnosed after a physical exam and patient interview. In certain cases, medical imaging and lab tests may be ordered.

Heel bursitis can cause heel pain and swelling as well as skin redness and stiffness at the back of the heel. Some symptoms may indicate septic bursitis, which requires urgent medical care.

There are several effective home treatments for heel bursitis. A doctor may suggest other treatments, such as therapeutic ultrasound, if symptoms do not go away after a few weeks. The recommended treatments for retrocalcaneal and calcaneal bursitis may differ slightly.

Hip bursitis occurs when a hip’s bursa becomes inflamed. Pain at the outside of the hip, sometimes referred to as greater trochanter pain syndrome, can be a sign of hip bursitis. A less common type of hip bursitis is iliopsoas bursitis.

People are more likely to experience hip pain from hip bursitis if they have had a hip injury or surgery, put repetitive pressure on the hip, are overweight or have other conditions that affect the way they walk and run, or have inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

A health professional must rule out other several other possible causes of hip pain before diagnosing hip (trochanteric) bursitis. To do so, the clinician may order medical imaging, such as x-rays and MRI, and order lab tests.

The most common symptom of hip bursitis is hip pain and tenderness at the outside part of the hip. The pain typically gets worse with activities that aggravate it, like walking, jogging, stair climbing, or sleeping on the affected side. The hip may ache, and hip pain may radiate down the leg or to other areas.

The primary treatment for hip bursitis rest and a change in activities, but other treatments, such as medications and injections, may also be recommend. If the hip pain from bursitis is severe and persists, a bursectomy, IT band release, or other surgery may be offered.

Knee bursitis, or prepatellar bursitis, is a common cause of knee swelling and inflammation. Knee bursitis may last weeks or even longer if left untreated. This article provides an overview of the condition.

Find out how doctors diagnose prepatellar bursitis. Lab test results and other clues may be needed to confirm bursitis and determine whether or not the bursa is infected (septic bursitis).