Bursitis is inflammation of the bursae. Some of the common joints affected by bursitis are hip, knee, shoulder and elbow.
Symptoms of Hip Bursitis
The most common form of hip bursitis is trochanteric bursitis. Hip is a weight bearing joint of the body. Hence the major cause of hip bursitis is overuse, over pressure and injury to the hip joint. The symptoms of hip bursitis may have a gradual onset or they may develop suddenly, as in case of a trauma to the hip. The symptoms of hip bursitis are listed below:
1. One of the most prominent symptoms of trochanteric bursitis is pain occurring over the side of the hip
2. In other cases, the person suffering from hip bursitis may complain of referred pain. Referred pain is the pain that originates in one part of the body and travels to different parts of the body. In this case, the pain originates in the hip and travels down the outside thigh. In severe cases of hip bursitis, the pain may even continue down to the knee
3. Intense pain occurs when the person is sleeping on his side; especially the affected hip. The most common cause of hip bursitis is over pressure on the joint. So when a person sleeps on the affected side, it only increases the pressure on the hip, thereby increasing the intensity of the pain.
4. Pain is aggravated upon getting up from a deep chair or after prolonged sitting in one place, especially while travelling in a car. Sitting puts pressure on the hip joint and the symptoms become worse on prolonged sitting and getting up.
5. Any kind of physical exercise that puts pressure on the hip joint makes the pain worse. The person suffering from this type of bursitis may also complain of severe pain when climbing stairs or walking uphill. The pain in the hip and the gluteus muscles is aggravated when walking, cycling or even standing for long periods of time.
Symptoms of Knee Bursitis
The most common form of knee bursitis is pre-patellar bursitis. It is commonly referred to as “housemaid’s knee”. The common symptoms of knee bursitis are as follows:
- Swelling over the knee joint
- Restricted mobility of the knee
- Pain around the knee joint that is aggravated by kneeling over and motion of the knee
- Intense pain of the knee that becomes worse at night
In cases of knee bursitis which occur as a result of other conditions such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, the person may complain of stiffness, pain, swelling and redness of the knee joint
Symptoms of shoulder bursitis
Symptoms of shoulder bursitis include pain and swelling of the shoulder joint. The pain is aggravated by lifting heavy weights and by sudden motion of the arm. The pain may be referred to the arm. The inflammation and swelling strike suddenly over a few hours or days. If caused by injury, bursitis will resolve after a few days or weeks. However, if bursitis is caused by overuse, the inflammation will continue unless the particular activity or movement is stopped.
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