Essay/Term paper: Bursitis

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Science Reports

Bursitis


Does it hurt to move your arm? Is it tender and radiating pain to your neck and
finger tips? Do you have a fever? If you answered yes to two or more of these
questions then you may have typical joint injury called bursitis. Bursitis is an
inflammation of the bursa that is easily prevented, detected and treated.
Bursitis is a common condition that can cause much pain and swelling around an
affected bursa. A bursa is a sac between body tissues that move against each
other. They are filled with a lubricating liquid to minimize the fiction between
the tissues. The bursa are found mostly in joints between skin and bone or bone
and tendons. When you irritate these lubricating sacs, the bursae fill with
fluid and become irritated and inflamed. This inflammation causes severe pain
with movement of the joint, often limiting the movement of the affected area.
Bursitis commonly strikes in the shoulders, elbows, knees, pelvis, hips or
Achilles tendons. Bursitis can affect nearly anyone for any number of reasons.
It affects mainly adults both male and female. The individuals most at risk are
people who engage in excessive and improper stretching and people who are
involved heavily in athletic training. Bursitis can be caused by many things.
For one, it can be caused by injury or overuse of a joint. Strenuous unfamiliar
exercise also can cause Bursitis. Plus, such diseases as gout, arthritis, and
chronic infection of a joint can be likely causes. But frequently the cause of
Bursitis can not be determined. The only ways to prevent getting it are to wear
protective gear when exorcising, practice appropriate warm ups and cool downs
during exercise and to maintain a high fitness level. Bursitis is an easily
treatable disease. If you suspect that you have bursitis, you will probably
seek the advice of a doctor. Most likely the doctor will look at your medical
history and take some x-rays. If you are diagnosed with bursitis the doctor may
prescribe some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or pain relievers and
may make some cortisone injections into the bursa to relieve inflammation. Once
at home you are expected rest the affected area as much as possible and to apply
RICE ( rest, ice, compression and elevation of the inflamed joint). Also to
prevent the joint from freezing you should begin moving and exercising the
affected area as soon as possible. Most likely the problem will subside in 7 to
10 days if proper care is taken. Bursitis a common, yet painful, joint disorder
that can be diagnosed and treated with much ease. Although it is most common in
athletes, it can happen to anyone. So take the proper precautions to prevent
yourself from acquiring this painful inflammation of the joints known as
Bursitis.

Bibliography

1. Jeffrey R.M. Kunz MD, Asher J. Finkel MD, eds. The American Medical
Association: Family Medical Guide. New York: Random House, 1982.

2. Griffth, H. Winter. Bursitis. Putnam Berkel Group, 1996. Online. Lycos.
Internet. 19 November 1996.

3. Lockshin, Micheal. "Bursitis." World Book. 1992 ed.