Relieving the Pain of Bursitis

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

27 Mar 2009 01:32 PM

Bursae are little sacs of fluid throughout the body. There are eight bursae around each shoulder and eleven around each knee. Each side of the body has dozens of bursae that help your joints work without friction and pain.

When the bursae are working right, you'd never know they were there! But when something's not right with even one little sac of fluid, you'll know it. Pain is the number one symptom of bursitis -- and it's a pain that comes and goes.

The best thing you can do when bursitis flares up is rest. Stop whatever you're doing that is causing the pain and rest that joint! You don't necessarily want to be immobilized for days, but you do want to be sure to rest the aching joint.

Here are some other things that can help ease the pain of bursitis:

• If the joint is hot to the touch, apply ice. Try ten minutes with the ice on, then ten minutes with the ice off the joint. Alternate for as long as the area is hot to the touch.
• If the joint isn't hot to the touch, try alternating heat and cold.
• You don't have to tough it out. Take painkillers if you need them! An over the counter pain reliever like aspirin or acetaminophen can bring you some relief.
• If the problem joint is an elbow or shoulder, try swinging your arm for a few minutes. This will help you maintain range of motion. Swing back and forth, side to side, and in circles; repeat throughout the day.
• Stretch like a cat. (Or a dog!) Get on your hands and knees with your arms straight. Stretch backwards until you're sitting on your heels. This is another move that will help you maintain range of motion.
• Be patient. In many cases, the worst pain of a bursitis flare-up will fade in four days or so. The average person is back on their feet within ten days -- but this can vary from one person to another and from one bursitis attack to another.

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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