Relieve Joint Pain with Bursa Injections

You might have bursitis if you are experiencing persistent joint pain and swelling in your knee, hip, shoulder or elbow. Bursitis typically affects one joint and makes movement challenging. Fortunately, a joint injection could ease the symptoms.

What is Bursitis?

Bursitis is an inflammation or swelling of a bursa. A bursa is a little sac filled with fluid that forms under the skin and above a joint. They act as cushions for the tendons that move over the bones. In addition, the bursa contains a lubricant known as synovial fluid. The synovial-filled sac is covered by a thin film called the synovial membrane. There are around 160 bursae at various joints throughout the body. Inflamed bursas result in a thickening of the membrane, causing swelling and pressing on the neighboring joint. As a result, it becomes painful and challenging to move the joint.

What Causes Bursitis?

Bursitis most frequently affects the elbow, shoulder, hip, knee and ankles. Since movement affects the bursae, the most common causes are overuse or repetitive motion. Certain industries that include packaging, manufacturing and construction activities can bring on Bursa pain. In addition, bursitis can occur in athletes who participate in sports like tennis and baseball that demand repetitive motion. Other causes include rheumatoid arthritis or gout side effects, infections, degenerative joints and injuries.

Treating Bursitis with Injections

If you have ongoing joint pain, you may be advised to consider bursa injection treatment. Bursa injections are a simple, non-invasive procedure performed in the doctor’s office. Using x-ray or ultrasound guidance, our physicians anesthetize the problematic area before injecting the steroid into the bursa, delivering anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected joint. The steroid or anti-inflammatory medicine will start to shrink the swollen bursa within the next few days, while the local anesthetic will relieve the pain immediately. The procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes and requires no recovery or downtime.

Address Joint Pain with Bursa Injections

Joint pain caused by an inflamed bursa can make movement difficult, lowering one’s quality of life. Bursitis can worsen if left untreated or unmanaged, so if you have it, you should visit a doctor immediately. Joint injections are an easy fix for a chronic issue. Bursa injections are one of the treatments we provide for bursitis at Hanowell Spine Clinic. Call us today to schedule a consultation at our Covington, Georgia facility.