Shoulder bursitis – Do you work in construction? Do you lift heavy objects over your head? Do you have shoulder pain? If you said yes to these questions, read the details below to learn about your shoulder pain.

What is bursitis in the shoulder?

● Shoulder bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa.
● It is caused by overuse, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and infections.
● It can also occur in the knees, elbows, and hips.

Symptoms

● Intense joint pain and tenderness can occur while standing and during movement.
● Increased swelling and stiffness can also be an indication of bursitis issues in the shoulder.

Diagnosis

● If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact your primary care physician for a shoulder X-ray to assess the bone structure.
● MRI/CT scans can assess soft tissue, tendons, fluid buildup, and tears.

Treatment

Ways to reduce the pain and restore the affected shoulder function:

● Rest, ice packs for 20 minutes four times per day interchangeably.
● Removal of fluid from the bursa.
● Physical therapy.
● NSAIDS (Advil, Aleve, Naproxen, ibuprofen, etc.) are effective for managing the pain and swelling.
● Steroid shoulder injections.
● Sleeping on the unaffected side.

Prevention

● Prevent bursitis issues in the shoulder by warming-up prior to exercising
● Take breaks while doing repetitive movement
● Stop if achiness becomes painful

Figure 1: (Anterior Right Shoulder)
Figure 2: Anterior and Posterior Shoulder Muscles

References

Alila Medical Media. (2019). [Illustration].

Alila Medical Media. (2020). Rotator Cuff Anatomy, Labeled. [Illustration].

Cedars-Sinai. (2019 read more).

NIH. (2019). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000419.htm

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