Also indexed as: Housemaid’s Knee
Shoulder joint soreness and swelling may be caused by bursitis,
an arthritis-like condition. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care
steps may help to stop the pain and improve your range of motion:
- Uncover the cause
- Work with a knowledgeable health professional to find out what is
causing your bursitis and to determine effective treatments
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not
intended to replace the advice of your doctor or chemist. Continue reading the full bursitis
article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and
dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.
About bursitis
Bursitis is an inflammation of one or more bursa (fluid-filled sacs that reduce friction
around joints).
The most common bursa to become inflamed is in the shoulder. The cause of bursitis is
mostly unknown, but trauma or arthritis may be involved.
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bursitis
What are the symptoms?
Acute bursitis causes pain, tenderness over
the inflamed bursa, and limited range of motion. Chronic bursitis attacks may follow acute
bursitis, unusual exercise, or strain. Attacks may last a few days to several weeks and are
characterised by pain, swelling, and tenderness.
Medical options
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin (Genuine
Bayer®, Ecotrin®, Bufferin®),
ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin IB®, Nuprin®), and naproxen (Aleve®), may be adequate to treat the
pain associated with bursitis.
Prescription strength NSAIDs, such as celecoxib (Celebrex®), valdecoxib
(Bextra®), ibuprofen (Motrin®), naproxen (Anaprox®, Naprosyn®), etodolac (Lodine®), meloxicam (Mobic®), and
indomethacin (Indocin®), are prescribed
when over-the-counter products are ineffective. Narcotic pain relievers, including codeine (Tylenol® with Codeine) and hydrocodone (Vicodin®, Lortab®,
Norco®), are also used. Oral
corticosteroids such as prednisone (Deltasone®) and methylprednisolone (Medrol®)
are often prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation. Corticosteroid injections such as methylprednisolone
(Depo-Medrol®), hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef®), and dexamethasone (Decadron-LA®)
may be necessary to reduce inflammation in chronic, severe cases. For noninfected, acute
bursitis, injections of the local anaesthetic lidocaine (Xylocaine®) may be used if other
remedies don’t adequately relieve pain.
Vitamins that may be helpful
In a preliminary study, intramuscular injections of vitamin B121 2 relieved the
symptoms of acute subdeltoid (shoulder) bursitis and also decreased the amount of
calcification in some cases. This mechanism is not understood. Oral B vitamins are unlikely to
have the same effect, since the body’s absorption of vitamin B12 is quite limited. A
doctor should be consulted regarding B12 or B12/niacin injections.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
Herbs that may be helpful
While there have been few studies on herbal therapy for bursitis, most practitioners would
consider using anti-inflammatory herbs that have proven useful in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. These would include boswellia, turmeric,
willow, and topical cayenne ointment.
Are there any side effects or interactions?
Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.
References
(To view, roll mouse over heading; to hide, click on heading)
1. Klemes IS. Vitamin B12 in acute subdeltoid bursitis. Indust Med
Surg 1957;26:290–2.
2. Kellman M. Bursitis: a new chemotherapeutic approach. J Am
Osteopathic Assoc 1962;61:896–903.
Copyright © 2006 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved.
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only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical
experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not
necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with
prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor,
practitioner, and/or chemist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before
making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires March 2007.
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