Bursae are the small fluid-filled sacs that surround the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints. Normally, bursae cushion your joints and help absorb shock as you move— but if they get inflamed, a painful condition called bursitis develops.
Bursitis is typically caused by repetitive motions or prolonged pressure on a joint, and it’s common in areas that get a lot of use like your shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Although bursitis is a condition on its own, it often coexists with other musculoskeletal or inflammatory conditions that can complicate its management and exacerbate your symptoms.
Our knowledgeable team at Manhattan Orthopedics is here to help. We specialize in diagnosing and treating bursitis, and we believe that understanding these related conditions and seeking effective treatment is the first step to achieving meaningful, lasting relief.
Symptoms of bursitis include localized pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness that can limit movement and impact your daily activities. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always occur on its own. Other conditions that you might have alongside bursitis include:
Tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon, and it often occurs alongside bursitis — especially in joints like your shoulder or elbow. Since tendons and bursae are located close together, overuse injuries that irritate one often affect the other, leading to combined pain and stiffness.
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can increase your risk of developing bursitis. Arthritis causes joint inflammation and degeneration, which can put additional stress on the bursae, and contribute to worsening irritation and swelling.
Gout, a form of arthritis caused by uric acid crystal deposits in your joints, is another condition that can co-occur with bursitis. These crystals can trigger inflammation in the bursae, leading to a painful overlap of symptoms.
Bursitis can sometimes result from an infection, particularly in superficial joints like your elbow or knee. This condition, known as septic bursitis, often coexists with other systemic or localized infections. Bursitis a serious complication, requiring immediate medical attention.
If you have bursitis and you’re wondering if you might have another condition too, our team at Manhattan Orthopedics has the experience and the capability to help. We offer comprehensive exams to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and provide a range of treatments to address your pain and promote recovery. Some effective bursitis treatments include:
Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication that we inject directly into the affected area to reduce swelling and pain. These injections provide fast relief, especially for severe cases of bursitis.
PRP therapy harnesses your body’s natural healing power as it uses concentrated platelets from your own blood. When injected into inflamed bursa, PRP can promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation, offering a regenerative approach to treatment.
Physical therapy is an integral part of bursitis management. Our therapists design personalized programs to improve your joint function, strengthen surrounding muscles, and even prevent future inflammation.
For severe or chronic cases of bursitis that don’t respond to conservative treatments, we offer arthroscopic surgery. This minimally invasive procedure involves removing the inflamed bursa and addressing any underlying joint problems to deliver lasting relief and restore better mobility.
You don’t have to keep suffering the pain of bursitis — even if it comes with a coexisting condition. Our comprehensive diagnostic approach is designed to identify and address all contributing factors to your pain, so we can offer you personalized care and more effective treatment.
Call our offices in Astoria, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, New York, or request your first appointment online to get started today.
