Bursitis Essay, Research Paper

Bursitis

Does it hurt to move your arm? Is it tender and radiating pain to your neck and

finger tips? Do you have a fever? If you answered yes to two or more of these

questions then you may have typical joint injury called bursitis. Bursitis is an

inflammation of the bursa that is easily prevented, detected and treated.

Bursitis is a common condition that can cause much pain and swelling around an

affected bursa. A bursa is a sac between body tissues that move against each

other. They are filled with a lubricating liquid to minimize the fiction between

the tissues. The bursa are found mostly in joints between skin and bone or bone

and tendons. When you irritate these lubricating sacs, the bursae fill with

fluid and become irritated and inflamed. This inflammation causes severe pain

with movement of the joint, often limiting the movement of the affected area.

Bursitis commonly strikes in the shoulders, elbows, knees, pelvis, hips or

Achilles tendons. Bursitis can affect nearly anyone for any number of reasons.

It affects mainly adults both male and female. The individuals most at risk are

people who engage in excessive and improper stretching and people who are

involved heavily in athletic training. Bursitis can be caused by many things.

For one, it can be caused by injury or overuse of a joint. Strenuous unfamiliar

exercise also can cause Bursitis. Plus, such diseases as gout, arthritis, and

chronic infection of a joint can be likely causes. But frequently the cause of

Bursitis can not be determined. The only ways to prevent getting it are to wear

protective gear when exorcising, practice appropriate warm ups and cool downs

during exercise and to maintain a high fitness level. Bursitis is an easily

treatable disease. If you suspect that you have bursitis, you will probably

seek the advice of a doctor. Most likely the doctor will look at your medical

history and take some x-rays. If you are diagnosed with bursitis the doctor may

prescribe some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or pain relievers and

may make some cortisone injections into the bursa to relieve inflammation. Once

at home you are expected rest the affected area as much as possible and to apply

RICE ( rest, ice, compression and elevation of the inflamed joint). Also to

prevent the joint from freezing you should begin moving and exercising the

affected area as soon as possible. Most likely the problem will subside in 7 to

10 days if proper care is taken. Bursitis a common, yet painful, joint disorder

that can be diagnosed and treated with much ease. Although it is most common in

athletes, it can happen to anyone. So take the proper precautions to prevent

yourself from acquiring this painful inflammation of the joints known as

Bursitis.

Bibliography

1. Jeffrey R.M. Kunz MD, Asher J. Finkel MD, eds. The American Medical

Association: Family Medical Guide. New York: Random House, 1982.

2. Griffth, H. Winter. Bursitis. Putnam Berkel Group, 1996. Online. Lycos.

Internet. 19 November 1996.

3. Lockshin, Micheal. “Bursitis.” World Book. 1992 ed.