Shoulder Bursitis
What is bursitis of the shoulder?
Shoulder bursitis is perhaps the most common cause of upper arm pain.
The shoulder bursa is a bag of lubricating fluid that surrounds the muscles and tendons of the shoulder. Inflammation in a bursa is called bursitis.
The shoulder has more than one bursa.
The sub deltoid bursa is the biggest one - and is the commonest one to cause a problem. The subdeltoid bursa is also sometimes called the subacromial bursa
A typical pattern of pain develops if the subdeltoid bursa becomes inflamed or irritated.
Injury is the commonest cause of bursitis around the shoulder. The problems usually starts after a fall or is the end result of unaccustomed overuse of the shoulder joint or shoulder muscles.
Sometimes the pain just seems to start out of no but sometimes the sufferer will be able to remember an injury or other specific trigger event.
Bursitis can exist on its own or in association with inflammation of the shoulder tendons. Shoulder tendon inflammation is called tendonitis
Shoulder Bursitis Diagnosis
Shoulder bursitis pains often begin gradually over a period of weeks or months. Pain is the main problem.
Bursitis usually starts with a gradual pain over the outer part of the shoulder but it can sometimes start very dramatically and suddenly.
The pain of shoulder bursitis is felt over the deltoid muscle area around the shoulder. It may spread down the arm towards the elbow or wrist. The pain is made worse by lying on the affected side or by trying to use the arm above the head.
Some people become aware of a "painful arc" of movement. This means that they have no pain when their arm hangs by their side but they develop a pain as they lift their arm up and outwards. The pain often arises when their arm reaches about sixty degrees of elevation. Once they get a bit beyond the ninety degree point, the pain eases again or goes away completely.
If a doctor or therapist resists the patients attempt to lift their arm outwards from the side then the pain will become more pronounced.
Your doctor may perform a maneuver called the Impingement Test to determine whether their is inflammation in the bursa or the tendons of the shoulder.
It is sometimes necessary for the doctor to exclude other problems by performing blood tests or by arranging x-rays or scans. An ultrasound scan is often the most helpful test.
Sometimes MRI scan is required to confirm the diagnosis of bursitis of the shoulder.
Shoulder Bursitis Treatment
If you have shoulder bursitis then you need to stop doing the movement or activity that provoked it in the first place.
Of course this is not always easy advice to follow but you might consider changing your technique or equipment if you are involved in sport. If your bursitis has been triggered by work then give some thought to changing the way that you tackle your job tasks and activities.
Treatment options for shoulder bursitis include:
- painkiller or anti-inflammation medication
- physical therapy from a physiotherapist, chiropractor or osteopath
- injection of a steroid drug
- strapping or taping of the shoulder
- acupuncture
- arthroscopic surgery
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