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Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder Bursitis Treatment Kansas City, MO

What is Shoulder Bursitis?

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Bursitis in the shoulder is caused by swelling in the bursa. The bursae are sacs that are filled with fluid and are part of the skeleton. They fill the space between bones and connective tissue with cushioning, which lets muscles, tendons, and bones move together.

Types of Shoulder Bursitis

  • Chronic – Chronic shoulder bursitis can be caused by repeated accidents or episodes of acute bursitis. It’s the most common kind of bursitis in the shoulder. This ongoing inflammation can make your arms and shoulders weaker over time
  • Acute – This kind comes on quickly, usually because of an accident or injury, and it hurts to touch or move the shoulder
  • Infectious – In rare cases, infectious shoulder bursitis can be caused by bacterial illnesses like staph infections. The shoulder may be red or black and feel warm to the touch, and you might feel sick and have a fever with a lot of shoulder pain

Shoulder Bursitis Symptoms

Bursitis can cause shoulder pain that comes on quickly or slowly. You might feel a dull ache, a sharp pain, or just a little soreness.

Other signs of bursitis in the shoulder are:

  • Shoulder pain or a feeling that the shoulder is swollen
  • It hurts to move around
  • Pain at night when sleeping on the bad side
  • Sharp or biting pain when the shoulder is moved up and down

What Causes Shoulder Bursitis?

Most of the time, bursitis happens in the shoulder, but it can happen in any joint. Shoulder bursitis is often caused by overuse or doing the same arm movements over and over again.

When you do things overhead, bones and muscles rub against each other more. This constant rubbing can make bursae swell up and hurt.

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Conditions

Shoulder Surgery
Frozen Shoulder
Rotator Cuff
Dislocated Shoulder
Shoulder Impingement
Shoulder Bursitis
Orthopedic Shoulder Care

Shoulder Bursitis Treatment

Shoulder bursitis is treated by relieving inflammation, pain, and other symptoms. Most people find relief from their symptoms with the following non-surgical treatments:

  • For a couple of months, pain and stiffness can be eased with steroid injections into the bursa
  • Exercises used in physical therapy to strengthen weak muscles and increase the range of motion
  • Antibiotics can get rid of the bacteria that cause infectious bursitis
  • Stop doing things that hurt the shoulder for a while
  • Use ice packs to reduce swelling
  • Pain relievers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory meds like ibuprofen can help relieve pain and inflammation

If your shoulder pain gets worse or doesn’t get better with non-surgical treatments, your doctor may suggest shoulder surgery.

During surgery, your surgeon will remove:

  • Tissue damage that pushes on the bursae and makes them sore
  • Inflamed bursae, in order to make room for tendons and bones in the joint to move around more freely

Shoulder Bursitis Specialist in Kansas City

Persistent shoulder pain can make everyday movements such as reaching overhead, getting dressed, exercising, or sleeping comfortably difficult. If these symptoms continue despite rest and activity modification, an evaluation with a shoulder bursitis specialist in Kansas City can help determine whether inflammation of the bursa or another shoulder condition is responsible.

At Orthopedic Health of Kansas City, our orthopedic shoulder specialists evaluate shoulder bursitis and other common causes of shoulder pain. Because symptoms of bursitis can overlap with conditions such as shoulder impingement, rotator cuff injuries, tendinitis, and arthritis, an accurate diagnosis is important before beginning treatment.

How Is Shoulder Bursitis Diagnosed?

A shoulder doctor in Kansas City will typically begin with a physical examination and a discussion of your symptoms, activities, previous injuries, and when your shoulder pain occurs. Your physician may evaluate your shoulder strength, tenderness, and range of motion and determine which movements reproduce your symptoms.

Imaging tests such as X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI may be recommended when additional information is needed or another shoulder injury is suspected. Your physician can then develop a treatment plan based on the cause and severity of your symptoms.

When Should I See a Doctor for Shoulder Bursitis?

Consider scheduling an orthopedic evaluation if shoulder pain persists, repeatedly returns, interferes with sleep, limits your range of motion, or makes work and recreational activities difficult. Sudden severe pain after an injury should also be evaluated.

Orthopedic Health of Kansas City provides shoulder bursitis treatment in Kansas City, MO, with convenient access to orthopedic care in Kansas City, Independence, Lenexa, and Overland Park. Our goal is to identify the source of your symptoms and help you safely return to comfortable shoulder movement.

Shoulder Bursitis FAQs

How long does shoulder bursitis take to heal?

Recovery time varies according to the cause and severity of the inflammation, your activity level, and the treatment recommended by your physician. Mild cases may improve with rest, activity modification, and other conservative treatments, while chronic shoulder bursitis may require a longer recovery period and physical therapy.

Can shoulder bursitis heal without surgery?

Yes. Most cases of shoulder bursitis are initially treated without surgery. Rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, activity modification, and corticosteroid injections may be considered depending on your symptoms. Surgery is generally reserved for persistent cases that do not respond adequately to nonsurgical treatment.

What movements make shoulder bursitis worse?

Repeated overhead movements, lifting, reaching, throwing, and certain exercises can aggravate an inflamed shoulder bursa. Some people also experience increased pain when lying directly on the affected shoulder. Your orthopedic specialist can help identify movements that should temporarily be modified.

Is shoulder bursitis the same as shoulder impingement?

No, although the conditions are closely related and can occur together. Shoulder impingement happens when structures within the shoulder become compressed during movement. This irritation can contribute to inflammation of the bursa and symptoms of bursitis.

Can physical therapy help shoulder bursitis?

Physical therapy may help improve shoulder mobility, flexibility, and strength while addressing movement patterns that contribute to irritation. A rehabilitation program can be customized according to your symptoms and underlying cause.

When should shoulder bursitis pain be evaluated urgently?

Seek prompt medical attention for severe shoulder pain following an injury, significant swelling or deformity, inability to move the arm, or symptoms suggesting an infection, such as increasing redness, warmth, fever, or feeling significantly unwell.

Shoulder Bursitis Care in Kansas City

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above, please contact Orthopedic Health of Kansas City and make an appointment with one of our shoulder specialists at one of our convenient locations.