Bursitis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Bursitis symptoms causes treatment and prevention means “care basics”: signs, triggers, safeguards.

Bursitis is swelling in a small, fluid-filled sac near a joint ^1,6. These sacs protect nearby bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin from friction ^1,5.

Repeated movement and pressure are common triggers ^1,6. Injury, arthritis, gout, and infection can also cause this problem ^1,7.

Most cases improve with rest and home care ⁶. However, infected bursitis needs medical care and antibiotics ^5,6.

This guide explains common symptoms, causes, tests, and treatment. It also covers infection warning signs and ways to prevent flare-ups.

A bursa is a thin sac that contains joint-like fluid ^1,5. The human body contains more than 150 bursae ^1,5.

These sacs reduce friction between bones and nearby moving tissues ^1,5. Those tissues include muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin ^1,5.

Some bursae sit between the skin and deeper tissues ¹⁰. Others protect tendons as they move across nearby bones ¹⁰.

Irritation makes a bursa swell with extra fluid ^1,5. Movement or pressure may then squeeze the swollen sac against other tissues ¹. This pressure can cause pain ¹.

Acute bursitis develops over a short period. It often follows trauma, infection, or crystal-related joint disease ¹.

If acute bursitis occurs, pressing the swollen area may hurt ¹. Active movement may also cause pain ¹. Nearby muscles can squeeze the sore bursa during movement ¹.

Chronic bursitis often follows overuse or lasting pressure ¹. Inflammatory arthritis can also play a role ¹.

If chronic bursitis occurs, the sac may thicken and swell ¹. Some chronic cases cause marked swelling with little pain ¹.

Recurrent bursitis causes repeated flare-ups in the same area ⁶. Repeated pressure or movement can lead to these ongoing episodes ^3,6.

Bursitis may affect many parts of the body ⁶. Common sites include:

Outer hip pain does not always come from bursitis alone ². Doctors often call this problem greater trochanteric pain syndrome, or GTPS ².

GTPS may include bursitis, tendon damage, and snapping hip ². Several of these problems can occur together ².

If bursitis occurs, common signs include pain, swelling, and limited movement ⁶. The area may also feel tender, achy, or stiff ^1,7.

Symptoms may follow these patterns:

Pain and swelling do not prove that bursitis is present. Tendon damage and joint problems can cause similar symptoms ^2,3,9.

The painful area can change how symptoms feel. Common patterns include:

Shoulder bursitis may occur with tendon irritation or a tendon tear ³. Read our tendinitis guide for more about tendon problems.

Septic bursitis means that infection has reached a bursa ⁵. It can resemble swelling that is not caused by infection ⁵.

Seek prompt medical care if any signs below occur:

Redness may be harder to see on Black or brown skin ⁷. Look for changes from the person’s usual skin color.

Fever does not occur with every infected bursa ⁵. Its absence cannot reliably rule out infection ⁵.

Repeated movement and prolonged pressure are common causes ^1,6. They place ongoing stress on a bursa near a joint ¹.

Activities linked with this condition include:

Poor posture may increase pressure on a bursa ^6,8. Uneven leg length can also add stress around the hip ⁸. An altered walking pattern may strain tissues near the outer hip ².

A fall or direct blow can irritate a bursa ^1,8. The injury may seem minor when it happens ¹.

A puncture can carry bacteria through the skin ^1,5. The bacteria may then enter a bursa near the skin ^1,5.

Infection can also spread from nearby cellulitis ⁵. Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and deeper tissues ⁹.

Infected bursitis commonly affects bursae close to the skin ¹⁰. These bursae face a higher chance of cuts and direct injury ¹⁰.

About 80% to 90% involve *S. aureus* bacteria ⁵. This figure applies to acute infected bursitis ⁵. Streptococcus species are the next leading bacterial cause ⁵.

Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can raise the risk ^1,7. Gout and other inflammatory joint diseases can also raise it ^1,7.

Gout involves uric acid crystals that collect in joints ⁹. Learn more in our gout guide.

Jobs and hobbies can raise risk through repeated stress ^6,7. Athletes, manual workers, factory workers, and musicians often face these movements ^3,6.

Bursitis becomes more common with age ⁷. Older adults may have more wear within the shoulder area ³.

Diabetes and immune suppression raise the risk of infected bursitis ¹. Inflammatory arthritis and gout may also raise this risk ⁵.

Extra body weight adds stress around the hips and knees ⁷. This added stress can increase the risk in those areas ⁷.

Diagnosis often begins with a review of symptoms and daily activities ^2,6. A clinician may ask about work, sports, hobbies, or recent injuries ^2,6.

The examination checks the painful or swollen area. The clinician looks for tenderness, warmth, swelling, and skin changes ^1,5.

The clinician also checks how well the nearby joint moves ⁵. Movement testing can help separate bursitis from other problems ^1,5.

However, an examination cannot always identify an infected bursa ⁵. Infected and noninfected swelling can look very similar ⁵.

Simple shoulder bursitis may not need imaging ³. A clinician may order imaging to check for other causes ^3,6.

Possible tests include:

A normal X-ray does not show most bursae ³. These sacs are soft tissues rather than bones ³.

Bursal aspiration uses a needle to remove fluid from the sac ^5,6. The lab must test this fluid when infection is suspected ⁵.

A fluid sample is needed to confirm suspected infection ⁵. Symptoms and examination findings cannot make that distinction reliably ⁵.

A clinician may also check blood for signs of infection ^6,9. Blood tests alone may not separate infected and noninfected bursitis ⁵.

Rest is often enough to help uncomplicated cases improve ⁶. Avoid the movement or position that caused the irritation ⁶.

Common home care options include:

Do not place ice directly against bare skin. Source guidance advises wrapping the ice in a thin towel ⁶.

A clinician may suggest acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen ⁶. These medicines may help with pain ⁶.

Do not use these pain medicines beyond 10 days without medical advice ⁶. Ask a clinician which medicine fits your health needs.

Physical therapy can help improve movement ⁶. It can also strengthen muscles around an injured hip ⁸.

A therapist may provide stretches and exercises for hip pain ^2,8. Shoulder care may also address nearby tendon problems ³.

Occupational therapy focuses on safer ways to complete daily tasks ⁶. It may help reduce stress from work or household movements ⁶.

The plan should match the affected body area. It should also account for nearby tendon damage or other causes ^2,3.

If infection causes bursitis, treatment includes antibiotics ^6,9. A clinician may also remove infected fluid with a needle ⁹.

For infected elbow bursitis, finish the full antibiotic course ⁹. Continue for the period prescribed by the clinician ⁹.

Severe infection may not improve with antibiotics alone ⁹. Surgery may then be considered ⁹.

A clinician may use a corticosteroid injection for pain and swelling ⁶. A corticosteroid is a medicine that reduces inflammation.

Injections are not needed for every case. A clinician chooses treatment based on the cause and earlier response.

Surgery can remove the affected bursa ^6,8. It is generally considered when other treatment has not worked ^6,8.

A provider may consider surgery after symptoms last six months or longer ⁶. Surgery may also treat a severe infection that resists antibiotics ⁹.

Some symptoms need assessment instead of home care alone. Contact a healthcare professional in these situations:

Prompt assessment matters when infection is possible. A fluid test is needed to confirm infected bursitis ⁵.

Most cases improve within a few weeks ⁶. Hip bursitis may take several weeks or months to improve ⁸.

Elbow bursitis often improves within three to six weeks ⁹. Recovery can take longer when pressure continues on the area ⁶.

Returning to activity too soon raises the risk of another injury ⁶. Continued stress may also cause chronic or repeated flare-ups ⁶.

Follow your clinician’s advice about returning to work or sports. Increase the workload slowly after the area heals.

Not every case can be prevented ⁷. Task changes can still lower risk and reduce flare-ups ⁷.

Helpful steps include:

A physical therapist can assess movement and strength ^2,6. An occupational therapist can help change stressful work methods ⁶.

Repeated symptoms may mean the same trigger remains ⁶. Seek care if flare-ups continue despite rest and task changes.

Most uncomplicated cases improve with rest and home care ⁶. Protecting the area gives the swollen bursa time to heal ⁶.

Padding, breaks, warmups, and slow activity increases may lower risk ^7,8. Strength work can also help protect joints under stress ⁷.

If fever, warmth, or skin changes occur, seek prompt medical care ^5,6. A wound over the swelling also needs prompt assessment ⁵.

Severe swelling, limited movement, or lasting pain deserves medical review ^7,8. A clinician can check for infection and other possible causes ^3,5.