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 pharmacist. 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
characterized 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 anesthetic
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: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.