Knee Bursitis Treatment

Bursitis is the inflammation of a bursa. A bursa (the plural form is bursae) is a tiny fluid-filled sac that serves as a gliding surface to lessen friction between tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are adjacent to the tendons near the larger joints, such as shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Bursitis symptoms manifest themselves in many ways, and can be quite painful.

Aggravating Knee Bursitis

Bursitis can occur due to many reasons such as excessive friction in a joint, or pressure on a particular body part. Frequent flexing, bending or twisting of a joint also raises the risk of developing bursitis in that region. Infection is also one of the reasons for bursitis.

The treatment of any kind of bursitis depends on whether or not it involves infection. Bursitis that is not infected (from injury or underlying rheumatic disease) is generally treated with ice compresses, rest, and for those that choose medication, anti-inflammatory pain medications.

Here are some of these treatment strategies in detail:

Rest and protect the affected area: One of the most common methods in treating bursitis is to guard the affected area from any kind of pressure. It is also advisable to reduce the activity of the affected joint, as movement and pressure on the inflamed area will increase and prolong the symptoms.

Ice Packs: Using a cold compress on the inflamed area is also an effective method for treating bursitis. The ice will help to regulate the inflammation of the affected area and minimize the swelling. By minimizing inflammation and swelling, the bursa will return to its usual state and perform its usual function.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications: To heal bursitis, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naprosyn, Celebrex are also effective. These medications will help in decreasing the pain and swelling. It isrecommended to consult a health practitioner before taking pain relievers.

Cortisone Injections: If signs of bursitis are prolonged, an injection of cortisone may be taken into consideration. A powerful anti-inflammatory medication, Cortisoneis not given by mouth but is injected directly in the inflamed portion. Cortisone injections can be highly helpful for cases where the situation does not strengthen with rest.

Compression: An elastic bandage to compress the affected joints aids in relieving the pain.

Elevation: Elevate the affected body part above the level of the heart. This will prevent blood from accumulating in the bursa, which will help to reduce the resulting inflammation.

Steroids: In some cases where bursitis symptoms are severe, or if the person fails to respond to other treatments, doctors may recommend the use of steroid medication. Steroids prevent the flow of prostaglandin, a chemical in the body which causes inflammation of bursa. Steroids are typically injected directly into the affected body part. Repeated use of steroids can have many side effects, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and increased vulnerability to infection.

Antibiotics: If it determined that your bursitis is a result of, doctors will order oral antibiotics. It is necessary to complete the entire course of the prescribed medication, even if your condition improves. This will not only help in decreasing bursitis pain, but will also prevent the infection from returning. If you don't want to take antibiotics, there are a number of very potent herbs that have antibiotic functions. For more information ask at your local health food store.