Bursitis can be described as the swelling or inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs beneath the skin which form between joints and act as cushions for bones and tendons. These sacs are known as bursa. The primary symptoms of bursitis can range from swelling, to pain and tenderness, and various areas can be affected, including the knee, hip, shoulder, or elbow.
A bursa can be inflamed through a range of different causes, including repetitive movement or injury. In most circumstances, your risk of developing bursitis will be increased if you frequently take part in a range of physical activities that might require a significant amount of repetitive movements, such as playing darts or running. What’s more, people who spend a great deal of time kneeling will have a greater chance of developing bursitis in their knees.
Here, we’ll consider the challenge of diagnosing bursitis symptoms and signs.
The Symptoms of Bursitis:
The first step in diagnosing bursitis symptoms and signs is being able to recognize the signs for yourself. The severity of your symptoms will depend on how inflamed your bursa is. In some cases, the problem can cause stiffness and swelling around the affected area, and you may also find that your knee, shoulder, or the affected area becomes red and warm. The pain that is associated with bursitis usually begins as an ache and grows gradually worse with the application of pressure or movement. You may find that you struggle to support your full body weight.
Crucially, symptoms can be much worse in cases of septic bursitis, which is caused by infection. This problem can lead to a range of problems including a high fever, feeling shivery, broken skin around the affected area, or an infection that ranges deep into the layers of the skin.
Diagnosing Bursitis And Treatment Options:
Once you have an indication that you might be suffering from bursitis, it’s important to ask your doctor for his opinion on diagnosing bursitis symptoms and signs. In most cases, your doctor will be able to diagnose your condition by examining the area that has been affected and questioning you about your symptoms. He may ask if you have recently experienced trauma to the joint or whether you have a job or hobby that places repeated stress on that area.
In some cases, if you have a fever or a raised temperature, your doctor may take a small fluid sample from the bursa that has been affected to check for infection. This fluid will be removed through a process known as aspiration, and checked over by a laboratory which will search for bacteria and crystals that might develop as a result of conditions like gout.
Additional tests should only be used if your symptoms are non-responsive to treatment. If you do not begin to get better after treatment, your doctor may need to conduct blood tests to check for signs of rheumatoid arthritis, and magnetic resonance imaging tests to ensure that there is no extensive tissue damage such as torn tendons. Make sure that you discuss your concerns with your doctor in depth.
