Orthopaedic Surgeon Questions Orthopaedic Surgeon

What is the bursitis in your shoulder?

I am a 29 year old male. My doctor told that I have a bursitis in my shoulder. Is it serious?

4 Answers

That typically describes inflammation in the area. A bursa is a fluid filled sac which can become inflamed. Typically improves with rest, anti-inflammatories, possible cortisone injection, time.
The shoulder bursa is a sac of fluid that protects the rotator cuff. But when it becomes inflamed (bursitis), the shoulder becomes painful. It is not serious if it is treated properly. Proper treatment is an injection of steroid medication, anti inflammatory medication, and physical therapy. This treatment is successful about 90% of the time.
Bursa is somewhat of a cushion. We have multiple, in different places in our body, wherever bone comes close to the skin. When bursa's get inflamed, which is called bursitis, they swell up with fluid and depending on location of your bursitis (which joint) this swelling may be visible. Since this is due to inflammation it also causes pain. Bursitis should be addressed / treated. If left untreated it can become chronic and harder to treat. Treatment for bursitis starts with conservative treatment but can at times require surgical treatment. It's all a matter of what treatment your body responds or does not respond to. Obviously surgery is the last step.
In your shoulder, there is a thin sac of fluid called bursa which locates between your rotator cuff tendon (to lift your arm up) and your shoulder bone. When you do heavy lifting or throwing, the rotator cuff and the bursa
hit the shoulder bone causing the inflammation of both tendon and bursa.Therefore you always have the bursitis (inflamed bursa) and tendonitis ( inflamed tendon/muscle) together. You need to stop any throwing or lifting, take the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as Aleve or Motrin.I also recommend few weeks of physical therapy. If the symptoms are not relieved, I will recommend a steroid injection. If these treatments are not effective, I will recommend a MRI to rule out the rotator cuff injury.