Bursitis Information

Last reviewed on 16 January 2024 by Danniel Jacques (B.Med.Sci UNSW)

What is Bursitis?

Bursitis Treatment OSMO PatchBursitis is the irritation and inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a small lubricated balloon like sac found throughout the body. These sacs help bones and tendons to articulate and glide over each other by reducing friction and irritation.

The bursae contain a small amount of lubricating fluid within them known as ‘synovial fluid’. These sacs are located around joints and other moving parts of the body, such as the shoulder, elbow, foot, hip, knee and ankle.

The bursae act like cushions while also reducing friction between sliding tendons and bones. Occasionally a bursa will be subjected to ongoing stress or a sudden trauma. When this occurs it usually results in an inflamed bursa that fills with fluid. This condition is known as BURSITIS and can be the cause of considerable discomfort and pain.

What Causes Bursitis?

There are a number of possible causes of bursitis and these include overuse and repetitive strain, a sudden impact injury,  several autoimmune diseases as well as other disorders. In many cases there will already be pre-existing age related degenerative changes in the joint that make an individual more susceptible to inflammation and subsequent episodes of bursitis.

There is an increased risk in developing bursitis for individuals working in some physical jobs or participating in regular sports. This is due to placing repetitive stress and strain on their joints, which increases their risk of developing bursitis. An example of this would be a carpenter developing knee bursitis or a golfer, elbow bursitis.

Identifying the cause of the bursitis is important as this may help with the treatment of the condition. For example, identifying the cause may allow you to eliminate or avoid an activity that initially led to the condition.

What Parts of the Body can Bursitis Affect?

What are the Symptoms of Bursitis?

The signs and symptoms of bursitis can vary from individual to individual depending on the degree of inflammation and will normally include localised pain and tenderness.

An extremely inflamed bursa may also result in visible swelling that appears as a lump. Visible swelling is a particularly common symptom of both knee and elbow bursitis that may cause joint stiffness and extreme pain when weight or pressure is applied to that affected joint.

(Diagnosis of bursitis should always be confirmed by a qualified doctor prior to starting any treatment and will often require an ultrasound).

How is Bursitis Diagnosed?

It is always best to visit a qualified medical professional if you suspect that you have bursitis in order to get a proper diagnosis before starting any treatment.

While many areas of bursitis can be assessed by a physical and visual examination it is still best to have an ultrasound to properly confirm the diagnosis. Your doctor may also feel that additional images or tests, such as an MRI, X-Ray and/or blood tests, are required to rule out other possible causes or co-existing conditions.

Next Page: Learn the answers to the most common questions asked about treating bursitis, including:

Testimonials

Real accounts by real people. Hear what they have to say!

Baker's Cyst

Hi,

I have used the OSMO Patch in the past for my bakers cyst.

I was very successful with it and I have referred it to others.

Patsy C
WA, United States
Bursa on knee

Dear Friends at MediWise,

I had what a nurse practitioner at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London called ‘that huge bursa’ on my right knee as a direct result of falling from the top of a railway staircase when the city was inundated with a snowfall and resulting ice.

I received your patches the day before yesterday, and after two nights am now completely back to normal. I cannot thank you enough. This is one of the BEST investments I have ever made, and I will certainly be happy to recommend it to anyone who is looking for rapid relief from bursitis.

Cheers for now,

Bruce W
London, United Kingdom
Baker's cyst

Hello Danniel,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

I started using the patches about 10 days ago, and the amount of improvement is unbelievable. The lump was rock hard, and I could not bend the knee, nor straighten the leg. Even though there is still some swelling, the knee feels almost normal. I have run out of the patches, so will restart as soon as I receive the new batch…hopefully it will all go away.

Thank you for your help, and good luck..

Maria P
SA, Australia
Joint Pain

I used 4 patches last night for first time. I received them in the mail more than a week ago. How foolish of me not to open sooner. My 1 night of patches and I wake up without pain. OMG! These are like magic. Thank you so much.

Bev E
British Columbia, CANADA
Baker's cyst

Hello! I am writing to sing your praises!  I am not kidding.  I was first diagnosed with a Baker’s cyst approximately three months ago.  The pain became increasingly intense, so I finally made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon.  He explained that the cyst was most likely the result from a torn meniscus and that […]

Ms. Dale C
Georgia, United States
Baker's cyst

I just send you an other order of patches, It helps me a lot especially to sleep because I am always in pain with my bakers’cyst so I do not want to run out of patches. Thank You

Lilianne L
Ontario, Canada
Hip bursitis

Hi, My 81-year-old mother has been suffering from hip bursitis for several years.

She got some relief from regular corticosteroid injections. However, the last time she had this treatment, the injection was not carried out properly and she was in agony for several days. Consequently, she has been frightened to receive this treatment again, and the pain was getting progressively worse. She had not been sleeping and could not walk far.

I found the OSMO website and thought I’d give it a go. My mum has just completed the first course of 10 patches, and she has a completely new lease of life. It really is amazing how quickly this treatment has had an effect. She has been sleeping much better and walked further at the weekend than she has for many months. I have ordered a further 20 patches. Many thanks.

David P
Glasgow, United Kingdom
Knee Baker's Cysts and Meniscus tears

I’ve had knee problems for 3 decades and have had 4 surgeries due to an ACL tear and numerous Meniscus tears. Due to these problems, I’ve had a chronic problem with a Baker’s Cyst which I’ve been living with for years and the swelling has kept me in constant pain.

I definitely recommend the OSMO patches. They have given me substantial relief from the pain that I was experiencing. I’ve recommended the patches my Physical Therapist and he’s recommended them to his patients. I’ve also recommended the patches to my Surgeon and he is now recommending the patches in lieu of injections.

William M
California, United States
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