How do i treat elbow bursitis?

Has your elbow been acting up lately? Does it feel like there’s a water balloon hanging off of it? Well, fear not my friend, you might have elbow bursitis! And lucky for you, I am the self-proclaimed expert on such matters. So sit back and relax (unless this causes more pain) while I give you some tips on how to treat that pesky bump.

What is Elbow Bursitis?

Before we dive into how to treat it, let’s first understand what in the world elbow bursitis even is. In simple terms (for those who skipped out on anatomy class), bursae are small fluid-filled sacs around our joints that act as cushions between the bones and overlying soft tissues. When these sacs become inflamed, usually due to repetitive use or trauma (ouchie), we get bursitis.

In particular (for all my detailed-oriented friends out there), elbow bursitis involves inflammation of either or both olecranon and prepatellar bursae: two conveniently named sacks filled with ooey-gooey fluid located at the pointy end of your elbow joint.

Symptoms

Now that we know what exactly is going on inside ourselves (kinda), do any of these symptoms sounds familiar?

  • Swelling or redness around the affected area
  • Pain when pressure is applied
  • Stiffness near the joint

If you’re thinking “yes”, then congratulations! You may very well have yourself an inflamed little buddy living rent-free in your arm!

Diagnosis

“But wait!” You may be thinking (or yelling internally if this article isn’t calming enough) “How can I be certain?” Welllllll….

The best way to diagnose elbow bursitis would be through physical examination which includes evaluation of range of motion, Crepitus (sound from movement), and fluid change on palpation.

If there’s any doubt or to rule out the possibility of other underlying conditions such as infection, imaging tests like X-rays or MRI may be required.(Aaaaand cue medical jargon)

Treatment Options

Now to the ever-burning question: How do we get rid of this thing?

Non-Surgical:

Here are some non-invasive methods that you can try at home (or work if your boss is cool with it) before taking more drastic measures.

Resting & Icing

I know this one may be a no-brainer but resting is actually key when it comes to healing bursitis. Take a load off your elbow for a while—if you’re extra avoidant about taking physical break please enlist help “cough significant others” around; restrict activities that triggers inflammation on the joint so give it time for inflammation and redness to reduce.

You should also Ice affected area up-to ~~15~~ 20 minutes each session in every couple hours during day time (no night sweats!) ice will help reduce pain & inflammation caused by the sarcoid filled sac by drawing heat away from injury site. In addition compression using an elastro bandage could also potentiate recovery plan!

Tip: You don’t necessarily have show-off alligator arms, Just wear supportive clothing over the arm for optimal comfort level.

Medications

Some OTC drugs containing anti-inflammatory ingredients such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(NSAIDs) including Ibuprofen Advil®, Aspirin plus Aleve® can offer short term relief taken orally but doesnt accelerate curative power significantly .

Aspiration:

In worst case scenario aspirating contents oozing out from infected area/bursa might provide temporary ease Until Anti-Biotics identified cause get sorted..

Disclaimer: Please dont be your family’s jack-of-all-trades and try to do this on your own, promptly seek assistance from medical practitioner rather watch yourself get infected even more.

Surgical:

Bursectomy:

Oopsie! Sometimes home remedies may not give full “umph” such that swelling may persist or new fractures happen. In some cases you might need to wave goodbye sac contents bye-bye for good in elbow bursitis by performing a procedure called bursectomy [sounds fancy but it means surgically removing the fluid-filled abrasion.] “`

(Elbow Bursitis is infrequently required a surgical intervention)

Recovery Time

The real question that I know many people have been holding back: How long until its gone?
Unfortunately, there isn’t really an answer to that since everyone varies but guess whattt?! recovery time could take anywhere between2 -8 weeks (;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ) which depends on various factors such as location and size of inflammation site severity , efficacy & life style modifications made towards patient improvement.

Precautions

Now heres where the waiting game/period comes into play.
Trying prevention measures will always be better than actively tending to injuries eh? We don’t want our friend inflamm-sac taking up residence anymore!

  • Keep any shifts or repetitive activities from sweat-out sessions limited small windows throughout day so as not overwork ligaments
  • Try stretch exercises before engaging in exercise/daily routines–adds flexibility & mobility in joint regions!
  • Maintain correct posture when punching out those emails at work (we all slouch sometimes) because bad posturing causes unneccecary stress around joints making them more prone injury/have high risk symptoms come back..

Conclusion:

All-in-all WHOA awesome readers, If you think or are sure `=(about) having Elbow Bursitis using above stated improvised remedies or are unsure or any underlying conditions, always consult medical personnel for treatment guidance.

So that’s the scoop on elbow bursitis, folks! Hopefully this article has squashed any uncertainties you may have had—and maybe even brought a little laughter to all our days.

Thank you and Peace out!

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