Get a cortozone shot in the joint. Hurts but totally worth it. I couldn't move my left arm because my shoulder is so bad. After the shot, total relief. Really. Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa, which is the lubrication sac in the joint. The suppliments may help, but you need to get the inflammation down and that is what the shot will do.

A cortisone shot is the only thing that worked for me. I take glucosamine for OA. I have bad OA in most joints but almost no pain so I hope it is working. But I think bursitis is more of an inflammation and these herbal remedies won't help.

Hi Terri,

Bursitis can be very painful. Here is some information you might find useful :)


Bursitis refers to the irritation or inflammation of a bursa, which is a small fluid-filled sac that acts as a gliding surface to minimize friction between the tissues of the body, most commonly at joints. There are more than 150 bursae in the body that cushion and lubricate areas where the bones, muscles and tendons move across one another.

Bursitis usually causes pain and stiffness in the tissues surrounding the joints, instead of pain in the joints themselves.

Shoulder Bursitis usually stems from a rotator cuff injury. This type of injury may be caused by a number of things including falling, lifting heavy items, poor posture or repetitive overhead arm activities. Pain can radiate down into the armpit.


Symptomatic bursitis treatment usually includes rest and immobilizing (splint or cast) the affected area, applying heat for chronic inflammation or ice for acute inflammation. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), pain medications or a cortisone medication are common bursitis treatments as well.

Supportive treatments such as massage, hydrotherapy, physical therapy and reflexology are also useful. Bursitis usually heals within a week a week or two and simply requires home treatment.


Bursitis treatments that include natural and holistic treatments can also help to reduce the pain and inflammation this condition. Treatments such as herbal and homeopathic remedies are gentle and safe to use without harmful side effects. Herbs such as Boswellia, Turmeric and White willow have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Devil's Claw has also proven to be highly effective in treating joint conditions.

Glucosamine is naturally manufactured in the body and this substance is found in relatively high concentrations in the joints and connective tissues, where its function is to repair cartilage and maintain joint mobility.

Sending you healing,
Vicky

I don't know about you, but natural healing never did a thing for bursitis when mine got bad. Sometimes it is better to get one quick shot and have the inflammation go down.

Ultimately, getting on the best meds is the final solution. I have not had to have a cortisone shot in 6 or 7 years, since I started a biologic. Because no bursitis. Treat the disease, not the symptoms.

And Glucosamine is NOT for RA, but OA. Even your average herbalist knows that.

How does bursitis differ from tendonitis? Are the symptoms similar?

I have had pain in my right shoulder which original rheumy dxed as tendonitis. She sent me to PT which helped a bit with mobility, but didn't really touch the pain. Pain has been getting worse, and so has mobility. New rheumy thinks it's the RA (not tendonitis), haven't gotten xray results until appt nex week.

Is an MRI the only way to tell the difference b/w tendonitis vs. bursitis vs. RA affecting the joint vs. OA vs. injury??? Does anyone know how the pain of bursitis differs from that of tendonitis?

Thanks for starting this thread!

I had severe bursitis in alternating shoulders and a fam doctor said I probably torn a rotator cuff.... Keeping arm in a sling really did help. Don't know how you immobilize a hip without staying in bed...

The rheumatologist put me on prednisone and the pain went away in a day or so. Rheummy said that since I regained full range of motion without pain, the possibility of torn rotator cuff was near zero. Yea! Boo to the fam doctor who made that dx without even an xray

If I had bursitis of the hip, I think I'd go get the shot.

The pain I have from bursitis is extreme. I have had three cat scan guided shots of steroid in one hip, and one cat scan guided shot in the other. Each shot lasted a shorter time period. The first shot was wonderful. Pain all gone! My ortho was talking about surgically removing my bursa in both hips right before I was dx with RA. Since I have been on the meds for RA, especially the prednisone, the bursitis has retreated into the background. Thank the Good Lord for that, Lori. Bursitis can be debilitating. My doc did an MRI and it showed inflammation in the bursa in my hips and in both knees. I have lot of swelling in my knees when they act up. I honestly think the bursitis is caused by the RA. Of course, I could be wrong. Might ask my doc tomorrow, if I remember. :)

Vanessa

Eyemailme- Your Dr should be able to rule out bursitis with an ultrasound its inflammation of the bursa sac around your joint, tendonitis is inflamation of the tendon. i wouldnt do an MRI unless they think its major or something else. I have had both bursitis is way worse sometimes the shots do help.

Vanessa- Do you know if your inflammatory markers were high or low when your bursitis was bad? my inflammatory markers have been about normal but I have such severe swelling in my knees that the fluid is going up and down my leg so the Drs arent sure what else is going on. What all mes are you on? I developed bursitis after starting prednisone, in the begining the Drs said it was RA but now they are thinking something else. None of my RA meds (for the the bursitis) have worked and I have severe bursitis in bothe shoulders, knees, elbows and in one hip. I am the same way w steroid shots only the kenelog seemed to help but not for as long as it was supposed to :( I recently had surgery on one knee and soon on the other partly from the bursitis but I have to agree the hip is the worst!

Thanks

Yes, the hip bursitis makes it impossible to do anything without pain, including sleep! My inflamamtory markers were up when all this hit me at once. I had bursitis in both hips, both shoulders and both knees at the same time. Since they upped my prednisone, I am much better. I still have some swelling in my knees, but not like before. I also went to PT and they used ultrasound to help with the knee inflammation. It did get the swelling down to about half just with the PT. I don't need an MRI to determine if iti s bursitis or tendonitis. I can tell myself. The bursa are swollen and easy to find!

I have bursitis in my left hip now and have had it in both hips and in my knee. The shot has been the most helpful, along with rest. My doc says that the shot I got went into soft tissue, not the joint, and can be given three or four times a year without causing damage. He didn't exactly say that it was caused by RA but he says that RA patients tend to have problems with bursitis. My humble opinion is that for RA patients, if inflamation is involved it probably has something to do with RA.

When I saw my rheumy today and mentioned my ortho had suggested surgically removing the bursa in my hips, she said no way. She said the bursitis I have in my shoulders, hips and knees is from RA. I do believe she is right, because since she has been treating me, my shoulders are almost good, my knees are much better, as are my hips. Just wanted to share, in case this could help anyone.