If you feel discomfort when lying on your shoulder, have pain on the top or outside of your shoulder, or feel pain when you circle your arm, you may have shoulder bursitis. Shoulder bursitis, also known as subacromial bursitis, is the inflammation of the bursa – a tiny fluid-filled sac in your shoulder that helps reduce friction between the bones in your joints.
There are many things that can lead to the bursa, including injuries, overuse, and medical conditions that result in joint inflammation, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment of bursitis depends on the type of bursitis (chronic bursitis, infected bursitis, and traumatic bursitis) and the severity of bursitis.
Let’s discuss six tips that your orthopedic doctor may give you to treat shoulder bursitis and where you can go for effective treatment of shoulder bursitis in Miami Lakes and Plantation, FL.
#1 Give Your Shoulder Some Rest
Bursitis can be caused by overuse. Using your bursitis shoulder can worsen your symptoms. So, rest your shoulder, reduce its movements, and stop doing physical activities that you know tend to worsen your symptoms.
Rest can prevent the inflamed bursa from getting further irritated and gives your shoulder enough time to heal. You can also wear braces to give your shoulder some rest and time to heal.
#2 Ice Your Shoulder
You can also apply an ice pack on your shoulder for 15 to 20 minutes if your bursitis is due to an injury or overuse. Using an ice pack within the first five days after the injury can help reduce symptoms.
Do not place ice packs directly on your shoulder, as they can interfere with blood circulation.
#3 Take Your Medicines
For the pain, swelling, and discomfort in your shoulder, take painkillers such as acetaminophen and anti-inflammatories such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. You can also apply topical creams to ease the bursitis symptoms.
If your symptoms aren’t responding to the oral medicines, your orthopedic doctor may advise you to take corticosteroid injections which can be injected in or around the inflamed and irritated bursa.
#4 Do At-Home Exercises
To strengthen your shoulder, do some at-home gentle stretching exercises. These exercises keep your shoulder active without putting too much pressure on your shoulder joint. Common exercises you can do include shoulder rotation, posterior stretch, shoulder blade squeeze, door presses, and stick lift.
Do not over-stretch your shoulder to the point of extreme pain and discomfort.
#5 Complete Your Antibiotics Course
If you are suffering from infected bursitis (bursa infected with bacteria), your orthopedic doctor may recommend oral antibiotics. You must take your oral antibiotics regularly and complete their course of treatment. In severe cases, your orthopedic doctor may also recommend systemic antibiotic therapy – a therapy in which antibiotics are injected directly into your bloodstream.
#6 Consider Surgery If You Have Chronic Bursitis
Surgery is rarely needed for chronic bursitis. But if needed, your orthopedic doctor may perform surgery arthroscopically – a small incision is made in your skin, and a surgical instrument is inserted in the incision to remove the damaged areas of the tissue.
In some cases, an orthopedic doctor may also remove the bursa to create more space for the tendon.
Shoulder Bursitis in Miami Lakes and Plantation, FL
Have shoulder bursitis? Visit us at The Orthopedic Hand and Arm Center. Our highly trained and skilled orthopedic doctor Dr. Tosca Kinchelow will thoroughly evaluate your symptoms and medical history and give your diagnosis. Then, based on the severity of your symptoms and types of bursitis, our orthopedic doctor will develop a customized treatment plan for you.
If you would like to make an appointment with our doctor to treat shoulder bursitis, call today at (954) 635-5300 or schedule an appointment online.
