Bursitis pain

I woke up the other night with a burning pain in my hip. I didn't think too much about it but when the pain continued to wake me up each night for a week, I decided it was time to see my doctor. One of the things she wanted to check out was bursitis, an inflammation of the bursa. A bursa is a little fluid-filled sac around pressure points (like joints) that secrete a lubricant so that joints move properly. In other words, because of the bursa we get less friction or rubbing between a bone and other moving body parts such as muscles, tendons and even skin. We have about 160 throughout our body. When we overdo it with exercise or accidentally bang an elbow or knee we can develop bursitis. The Mayo Clinic offers some tips to help you deal with this condition should it ever happen to you.

1) Everything in moderation. Whether playing a sport or on the job, if you overuse a joint through repetitive movements you can develop bursitis. Doctors often see patients who have played too much tennis or pitched too many innings of baseball. But workers often complain of pain as well. People who lay carpet all day or kneel for long periods of time in the garden can cause trauma to the joints and end up with bursitis. What can you do? If excessive exercise is the culprit, stop the type of workout that causes you discomfort or try a different sport. If you have to continue your work activity such as kneeling to install carpet or tile, then modify your task by using knee pads or a cushion.

2) What does the doctor say? Your physician or health care provider may recommend basic home remedies as the first line of defense against bursitis. This involves icing the area at least twice a day, elevating the joint if possible and taking anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce the swelling. If you are still in pain after a week or two, it may be time for additional treatment such as a steroid injection.

3) Don't be a weakling. Your doctor may also recommend stretching and strengthening exercises to keep your bursitis from recurring. Strong muscles help protect your joints, but wait until your bursitis pain has subsided before getting started.

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