Is Shoulder Bursitis the cause of shoulder pain?

Do you also have a sharp, stabbing pain that you feel when doing household chores, playing cricket, or just lifting your shoulder? Is this pain so severe that you can't even sleep at night? While many people think that this is just a sprain or a muscle tear, the cause of this could be a condition called Shoulder Bursitis. This name may be new to you, but this is a more common condition than we think. So, let's talk about this in a simple and clear way today.

Simply put, what is Shoulder Bursitis?

To understand this, let's first look at our shoulder joint. Think of our shoulder joint as a machine that is constantly working, with many parts moving together. In this joint, there are small, fluid-filled sacs that help prevent the bones and tendons from rubbing against each other and move easily without damaging them. In medicine, these sacs are called bursa .

Now, due to some reason, for example, an accident, or due to continuous work, this bursa sac becomes irritated, injured and swollen. This inflammation of the bursa sac is what we call Bursitis . When this occurs in the shoulder, we call it Shoulder Bursitis . The specific name that doctors give to this is Subacromial Bursitis .

Simply put, it's the swelling of the protective cushion between the bones and muscles of the shoulder. This swelling is what causes you to feel pain, stiffness, and difficulty lifting your arm.

What are the main types of Shoulder Bursitis?

Shoulder Bursitis can be divided into three main types. Each type has a slightly different onset and nature.

What are the symptoms of this condition?

The symptoms of shoulder bursitis can vary slightly from person to person, but there are some common symptoms.

• Shoulder pain: This is the main symptom. Some people just feel a heaviness, like something is stuck in their shoulder. Others may feel a sharp, pinching pain when they raise their arm up or to the side.
• Swelling: The outside of the shoulder may appear swollen.
• Stiffness: Difficulty moving your shoulders when you wake up in the morning, feeling stiff.
• Limited movement: Pain can make it difficult to fully raise or lower your arm. It can also be difficult to do simple tasks like combing your hair or putting on clothes.
• Sensitivity to touch: The shoulder feels painful even when touched or lightly pressed. Some people cannot even sleep on the painful side at night.
• Redness or warmth of the skin: Especially if there is an infection (infectious bursitis), the skin around the shoulder may become red and feel warm to the touch.

Why do we get Shoulder Bursitis? What are the risk factors?

There are two main causes of shoulder bursitis: injuries and overuse of the shoulder .

Imagine a cricketer who bowls continuously. Or a carpenter who hammers all day. When you do the same motion over and over again, the bursa sac in your shoulder gets constantly pushed and rubbed. After a while, it doesn't get time to heal. That's when it starts to swell.

What happens if this is ignored?

Shoulder bursitis is usually a condition that can be cured with proper treatment. However, if you have chronic bursitis, meaning the pain comes and goes, it can cause permanent damage to the bursa. Over time, the shoulder's range of motion can become restricted, and a condition called frozen shoulder may develop.

Septic bursitis, which is caused by a bacterial infection , needs immediate treatment . If left untreated, the bacteria can spread throughout the body and cause a serious, life-threatening condition called sepsis . Although it is very rare, it is important to be aware of it.

How does the doctor diagnose this?

When you go to see a doctor with shoulder pain, the first thing he or she will do is ask you questions and examine your shoulder.

• How far can you move your shoulder? (Range of motion)
• Where do you feel the pain?
• Is there any swelling or redness?

After checking these things, you may be referred for these tests to further confirm the condition and see if there are other causes.

• Shoulder X-ray: Check for any bone spurs, fractures, or dislocations.
• MRI or Ultrasound scan: This can clearly see things like swelling in the bursa sac and damage to the muscles.
• Joint aspiration: If a bacterial infection or gout is suspected, the doctor may use a small needle to remove some fluid from the bursa sac and send it to the laboratory for testing.
• Blood tests: Check for infection in the body.

What are the treatments for this?

The good news is that most of the time, shoulder bursitis can be cured without surgery, with simple treatments.

1. Rest

The main and most important treatment for this is rest . It is essential to stay away from the activities that are causing your shoulder pain for a while. If you are a sports person, you need to take some time off from training, or if you are a job-related person, you need to take some time off from those activities. This will give the swollen bursa the time it needs to heal.

2. Ice packs

Ice packs can help reduce pain and swelling. Wrap an ice pack in a thin towel and apply it to the painful area for about 15 minutes several times a day. Do not apply ice directly to the skin, as this can damage the skin.

3. Painkillers

As per your doctor's advice, you can take painkillers such as Paracetamol or NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). These will reduce pain and inflammation.

4. Corticosteroid injections

If the pain is severe and simple treatments are not enough, your doctor may decide to inject a steroid directly into the bursa. This can quickly reduce inflammation and provide significant pain relief.

5. Physical Therapy (PT)

Once the pain has subsided, it is important to seek the help of a physiotherapist. He or she will prescribe specific exercises to strengthen the muscles in your shoulder and increase flexibility. These exercises will not only help to restore your shoulder to its normal position, but will also help to prevent the condition from recurring in the future.

6. Antibiotics

If you have infectious bursitis, you will definitely be prescribed antibiotics. It is very important to take the full dose of the medicine for the number of days your doctor prescribes. Do not stop taking the medicine just because you feel better.

Will surgery be needed?

Surgery is rarely necessary for shoulder bursitis. A doctor will only consider surgery if the pain is severe enough to prevent you from doing your daily activities and no other treatment is effective. This surgery is usually performed through a keyhole surgery called shoulder arthroscopy .

How can this situation be prevented from recurring?

"Prevention is better than cure," they say. So, there are some simple things you can do to prevent Shoulder Bursitis.

• Warm up thoroughly before starting exercise or work: Do stretching exercises that stretch the muscles associated with the shoulder joint.
• Strengthen your shoulder muscles: Under the guidance of a physical therapist, perform shoulder strengthening exercises appropriate for your sport or occupation.
• Take a break: If you are doing work that is tiring your shoulders for a long time, take a short break in between.
• Don't work through the pain: If your shoulder hurts, don't "do the thing that hurts." That will only make things worse. Pain is your body's signal to you, "I need a break." Listen to it.

When should you see a doctor?

If you have one or more of the following symptoms, be sure to see a doctor.

• If you have shoulder pain that is so severe that you can't do your daily activities or sleep at night.
• If the pain does not subside after a few days with simple home treatments (rest, ice).
• If you feel weakness in your shoulder or arm.
• If your shoulder is red and swollen, along with symptoms such as fever and chills (this could be a sign of a bacterial infection, so seek medical advice immediately).

It's normal to feel a little pain or stiffness in your shoulder after doing some yard work or playing a sport. But if the pain lasts for more than a few days, don't ignore it as something else. By seeing a doctor at the right time, getting the right diagnosis and treatment, you can recover quickly and get back to your normal activities.

Shoulder pain, Shoulder Bursitis, Shoulder swelling, Inability to raise the arm, bursa, subacromial bursitis