Bursitis is a condition that affects many people across the United States. It’s painful and can impact your life in several ways. It’s possible for anyone to develop bursitis; however there are some things that increase your risk of developing the condition. Most people suffer through this condition. However, you don’t have to. Chiropractic care may offer a solution.
A Family Chiropractic Clinic treats patients suffering from a number of conditions. Some of our patients make appointments to treat their bursitis. The first important thing about seeking treatment for any condition is understanding what causes the problem.
What is Bursitis?
Bursitis is a very painful condition that affects the bursae, or small sacs of fluid that cushion your bones, muscles, and tendons near around your joints. The condition occurs when these bursae are inflamed. This happens most commonly in the elbow, shoulder, and hip joints. However, some people also experience bursitis in their knees, heels, and at the base of their big toe. The location of the bursitis depends on which joints frequently perform repetitive motions.
Bursitis develops most commonly with repetitive motions which cause excessive friction. This, in turn, leads to inflammation of the bursa. It can also happen when the bursa is subjected to prolonged periods of compression. Injuries and other conditions such as arthritis and gout can also increase your risk, as can age.
This condition commonly presents itself as a swollen, red, achy, stiff joint, with increasing pain when subjected to pressure or movement. Often, people hold off on visiting their doctor until the joint pain is debilitating or there’s a complete lack of movement. However, beginning treatment before the condition reaches this point can help protect you against this level of pain and inconvenience.
Most people with bursitis just rest the area and wait for the pain to go away. However, this can take weeks or even months, and you may experience frequent flare-ups. Not treating the condition can also result in the accumulation of scar tissue or other complications. In extreme cases, you may develop chronic bursitis. It’s best to treat the condition in the early stages.
Diagnosing and Treating Bursitis
Bursitis treatment often begins with ultrasound therapy to help reduce inflammation. This is often in addition to massage therapy that helps break down scar tissue. After the condition has stabilized, chiropractic care is the best treatment option.
Chiropractic care helps loosen up the surrounding area to relieve pressure and restore flexibility. However, before treatment can begin, your chiropractor must first diagnose the issue. After taking a medical history, your chiropractor may recommend an x-ray to check for calcifications of your bursae. However, an x-ray alone may not be able to diagnose bursitis. Your healthcare provider may also recommend an ultrasound or an MRI if the physical exam alone isn’t enough.
Treating Bursitis
Conservative treatment options include rest, ice, and medication. However, this often results in an extremely slow recovery time. Seeking out chiropractic care can help speed your recovery along considerably. The chiropractor can help ensure that your spine and joints are in alignment to take any unnecessary pressure off your joints. Often, chiropractic care is combined with physical therapy or other forms of therapy such as ultrasound treatment. Depending on the location of your bursitis, you may also require the temporary use of an assistive device such as a cane.
During recovery it’s important that you rest to avoid overusing the problem area. It’s also a good idea to apply ice for the first 48 hours after experiencing symptoms in order to reduce inflammation. Heat therapy can also help relax and loosen the surrounding tissues.
Your chiropractor can also help you reduce the chances of suffering from bursitis flare ups. They can do this by evaluating the movements that caused the problem in the first place and help you learn how to move without putting additional stress on your bursae. This can often be as simple as correcting your posture or learning an alternative way of completing a task. Not all types of bursitis are preventable, but it is possible to manage your risk.
Lifestyle Changes to Avoid or Minimize the Effects of Bursitis
In addition to correcting your posture and movements, there are other small lifestyle changes you can make to help control bursitis flare ups. For example, if you sleep on your side, then place a small pillow between your legs to cushion your knees and support your hips.
It’s also important to ensure you are lifting objects properly by bending your knees rather than your waist as you lift. Bending at the waist not only puts extra stress and pressure on your back, but your hips as well. Instead of carrying heavy loads, try to use a dolly or a wheeled cart.
If your job requires extended periods of time on your knees, then invest in high quality knee pads or kneeling pads. This will help reduce pressure on your knees. With any repetitive or prolonged activities, be sure to take frequent breaks to allow your body the time it needs to relax and recover.
Maintaining a healthy body weight can also reduce the likelihood of bursitis and other conditions. This is because the added weight adds more stress to your joints. Exercise is a great way to maintain a healthy body weight while strengthening muscles that protect your joints and maintain your flexibility. However, before exercise or any other strenuous activities it’s extremely important that you warm up and stretch your joints and muscles.
Taking proper care of yourself can go a long way when it comes to the prevention of bursitis and other conditions. This is especially true as we age. Over time, the body begins to slowly break down. It’s up to us to ensure we maintain a healthy lifestyle so we can live a happy and healthy life for years to come. Chiropractic care provides a great way for you to ensure your body is operating at its maximum capabilities.
