Shoulder Bursitis
Sometimes you don’t know what might be causing your shoulder pain because not all shoulder pains are common.
However, if you feel pain when you reach out for something, raise your arm, and your shoulder is swelling up, getting red, and getting stiff, shoulder bursitis might just be the culprit.
Physical therapy is great for providing relief to shoulder pain without harmful drugs or surgery. A therapist will evaluate your shoulder, and put you on a specific treatment plan to restore full motion to your shoulder.
Request an appointment with us today to see a physical therapist and learn how you can get rid of your shoulder pain.
What is Shoulder Bursitis?
Bursitis occurs when the bursa sac is inflamed. A bursa is a thin fluid-filled sac that helps to reduce friction, and ease rubbing between tendons, bones, ligaments, and skin.
There are 160 bursae in the body, and the major ones are found in the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee.
Inflammation of the bursa is usually characterized by pain, redness, and swelling.
Therefore, shoulder bursitis happens when the bursa in the shoulder becomes inflamed.
What are the Causes of Shoulder Bursitis?
The major cause of shoulder bursitis is from stressing the bursa. This could be a result of overuse or injury. Another cause could be underlying medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and diabetes.
What Symptoms Should I Look out for?
Remember that your shoulder bursa helps to reduce friction between the tendons and bones in your shoulder. When this bursa now becomes inflamed, you are bound to have pain when you move your shoulder. The severity of the pain may depend on what is causing your shoulder bursitis.
Some symptoms include:
Pain when you move your shoulder
Pain when you reach out for something
Redness or swelling
Sometimes a little stiffness as a result of the friction
However, your shoulder bursitis can also be infected. Though, this is very rare. Symptoms usually associated with infected bursitis are
Excessive warmth in the inflamed area
Tenderness, soreness, and pain
Fever
Who is Most Likely to Have Shoulder Bursitis?
Anybody can have shoulder bursitis. Although some people are more at risk than others. These people are
- Individuals from 40 and above. As we grow older our bodies will naturally begin to wear out.
- Athletes using their shoulders a lot for sports like baseball, volleyball, swimming, golf.
- Individuals that engage in activities such as carpentry, painting, gardening.
- Anyone who has had a sudden shoulder injury
What Treatments are Available for Shoulder Bursitis?
Treatment will depend on the type of shoulder bursitis you have. Our physical therapist will create your treatment plan.
For shoulder bursitis that is not infected, reducing the activities that led to the inflammation is vital. In other words, give your shoulder a break.
Your PT may also advise that you use ice on the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation. Motion exercises will also be performed to give motion and strength to the shoulder.
For infected shoulder bursitis, although rare, this requires aspirating the bursa. That is, using a needle to draw out the fluid from the bursa. The fluid is tested to identify the microbes causing the infection. Antibiotics are then given to kill the bacteria.
Get started with Physical Therapy for Shoulder Bursitis Today
As a result of the inflamed bursa, you will experience difficulties and pain using your shoulder, especially if the shoulder bursitis is accompanied by a frozen shoulder (stiffness of the shoulder) and impingement.
A physical therapist at Polygon PT will recommend exercises to help with the pain, swelling, stiffness, and weaknesses of the shoulder.
Even if you have had surgery for your bursitis, rehabilitation is necessary to make your shoulder heal faster and restore motion completely.
The time it takes for shoulder bursitis to be heal varies. However, you should expect to start seeing results within 2-8 weeks following proper rehabilitation and therapy. You can expect it to be healed completely within months.
If you have been experiencing the symptoms of shoulder bursitis or any kind of pain in your shoulder, request an appointment today with a physical therapist at Polygon PT.
