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| What is It? |
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| A bursa is a soft fluid-filled sac that serves as a cushion between tendons and bones, mostly near joints. Inflammation of a bursa is known as bursitis and causes pain in the affected area. Bursas most commonly affected are: elbows, knees, hips, shoulders, or near Achilles tendon. |
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| Causes |
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| 1. Strenuous, unaccustomed exercise. |
| 2. Injury to a joint. |
| 3. Overuse of a joint. |
| 4. Acute or chronic infection. |
| 5. Arthritis. |
| 6. Gout. |
| 7. Calcium deposits in shoulder tendons with degeneration of the tendon. |
| 8. Unknown (frequently). |
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| Signs and Symptoms |
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| Pain, tenderness and limited movement in the affected area with radiation of pain into adjacent areas. |
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| Associated With |
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| * Vigorous and repetitive athletic training. |
| * Exercise or sports participants who suddenly increase their activity levels ("weekend warriors"). |
| * Improper preparation before exercise. |
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| Prevention |
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| * Avoid injuries or overuse of muscles whenever possible. |
| * Wear protective gear for contact sports. |
| * Appropriate warm-up and cool-down. |
| * Maintain a high fitness level. |
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| Diagnosis and Treatment |
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| General Measures |
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| * RICE therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation of affected joint). |
| * Apply ice packs to the affected area during a flare-up or after receiving injections in the joint. |
| * After the acute stage, continued ice treatment (until inflammation subsides) or heat application may be recommended. If you use heat, take hot showers, use a heat lamp, apply hot compresses or a heating pad, or rub in deep-heating ointment. |
| * Invasive therapy may include aspiration of the joint, or surgical excision. |
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| Medication |
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| * Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. |
| * Cortisone injections into the bursa to reduce inflammation may be administered. |
| * Pain relievers if necessary. |
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| Activity |
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| Rest the inflamed area as much as possible. If you must resume normal activity immediately, wear a sling until the pain becomes more bearable. To prevent a frozen joint (especially in the shoulder), begin normal, slow joint movement as soon as possible. |
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| Diet |
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| No special diet. |
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| Possible Complications |
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| Frozen joint or permanent limitation of a joints' mobility. |
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| Prognosis |
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| This is a common, but not a serious problem. Symptoms usually subside in 7 to 14 days with treatment. |
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