Bursitis Treatment Specialist in San Ramon, CA

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a fluid-filled sac in the joints that works as a cushion that reduces friction between tissues of the body. The major bursae are located next to tendons around the large joints, such as elbows, hips, shoulders, and knees.

Bursitis is normally a temporary condition. It can limit motion and does not generally cause deformity. The most common types of bursitis to over are; retro malleolar tendon bursitis, posterior Achilles tendon bursitis, hip bursitis, elbow bursitis, knee bursitis, and kneecap bursitis.

If you have bursitis, you may feel achy or stiff in the affected joint. You may hurt more when you press on the affected area. The affected joint can appear swollen or red.

Injury and overuse are the most common causes of bursitis. It can also be caused by infection. Bursitis can also be associated with other problems, such as arthritis, diabetes, gout, tendonitis, and thyroid disease.

Repetitive motions are another major cause of bursitis. Bursitis can also be impacted by positions that put pressure on the joint. Examples of repetitive motions that cause bursitis are throwing a baseball, playing tennis, or repeatedly lifting something over your head. Things that can put pressure on a joint are leaning on your elbows for extended periods. If your work has you kneeling for extended periods, like laying carpet can cause bursitis.

Overuse of one part of the body, like a baseball pitcher’s arm, can cause tendinitis or bursitis. Tendinitis is the irritation of a tendon, the cord-like tissue that connects muscles to bones. Bursitis differs in that it is inflammation of the bursae.

You can have both of these conditions at the same time, or you may only have one of them. Your healthcare provider will help determine what condition you have.

Bursitis that is left untreated can lead to complications. Untreated, the bursae in the affected joint can become permanently thickened, which leads to chronic pain and inflammation. Due to chronic pain, a person can reduce the use of the affected joint and limit the use of that joint, which will lead to loss of surrounding muscles.

If you or your doctor suspect that bursitis could be the problem, questions about symptoms and physical examination will often confirm a diagnosis. In some cases, diagnostic procedures will include other forms of analysis to get a more conclusive diagnosis. Common procedures for diagnosing bursitis include:

Joint aspiration and analysis involve the removal of fluid from the joint and then analysis for possible infection or bleeding in the joint. It can also identify gout, pseudogout, types of arthritis, or inflammation.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to get an image of what is in the joint.

Ultrasound can be used to show if there are tears or swelling in the tissues around the joints or ligaments.

X-rays cannot be used to diagnose bursitis. It can be used to determine if something else is causing the pain associated with a joint.

Golden State Medical Center emphasizes holistically treating the underlying causes of your problems and not just putting band-aids on them. This will get you back to those activities that you love and need to do. They have the expertise and skill to deal with joint issues like bursitis. We are conveniently located at 2551 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Suite 108. San Ramon, CA 94583. For more information, please contact us or request an appointment online. We serve patients from San Ramon CA, Dublin CA, Blackhawk CA, Danville CA, Alamo CA, Diablo CA, Dougherty CA, Tassajara CA, Livermore CA, and Pleasanton CA.