Bursitis is a common problem - and not only around the shoulder joint.
Check back to this section of the site regularly for up to date information about the pain and symptom patterns that bursa problems can cause.
Olecranon Bursitis
The olecranon is the name given to the dimpled area behind the bones at the elbow joint.
Like many areas in the body where bones lie near to the skin or where there are muscles overlapping and lying close to a bone insertion, the body needs to build in a friction free surface for lubrication. These little friction free sacks full of synovial slippy fluid are called bursae (or bursa when talking about just one of them).
Inflammation anywhere in the body always gets the suffix "...itis" applied to it. So inflammation in a bursa is called bursitis and when the condition occurs at the back of the elbow it's called olecranon bursitis.
The problem can arise after a blow to the area or after pressure triggered by leaning on the joint - it used to be called student's elbow for that reason. Rarely it develops in association with more widespread inflammation conditions like gout or rheumatoid arthritis.
The diagnosis is usually made on clinical grounds and based on the examination skills and expertise of the doctor who examines you - but sometimes special scans or blood tests are required for confirmation.
Occasionally infection can be a problem in a case of olecranon bursitis and your doctor might decide to give you antibiotics as part of your treatment plan.
The condition often settles on it's own or with a course of anti-inflammation tablets - although a steroid injection is sometimes needed.
Trochanteric Bursitis
The trochanter is the name given to the large prominent bump of bone at and around the outer side of the hip. A small bag of lubrication fluid called a bursa separates the trochanter bone from the skin and the muscle in the region. If this bursa becomes inflamed then the condition is called trochanteric bursitis.
Trochanteric bursitis pain is felt over the outer side of the upper thigh. There is sometimes visible swelling in the region but often nothing is visible to the naked eye.
The bursa area is often tender to touch and lying on that side at night will tend to be painful.
The condition often arises after a blow or a fall onto the area.
Steroid injection can be an effective treatment option - although anti-inflammatory gels and creams rubbed into the skin often do the trick too.