Shoulder Bursitis
Each person has a number of bursae throughout their bodies. They are found in areas where muscles and tough bands slide over bones. Its function is to decrease friction between surfaces that move in different directions.
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They are essential because movement would be quite difficult and painful. Bursitis is the swelling of a bursa such that it tends to lose its sliding abilities, hence become easily irritated during movement resulting in pain.
Bursitis of the shoulder comes about when there is a swelling between the top of the arm bone and the tip of the shoulder.
In-between these bones are tough bands and a fluid-filled sac-the bursa-that protects the tough bands which usually glide smoothly within the space. In some individuals, the space between the bones becomes too narrow for movement and eventually become pinched between the bones.
Frequently, an injury to the shoulder joint starts the process of swelling in the bursa, causing a thickening which then occupies much space, hence pinching on the tough bands and bursa more. Thickening of the bursa and tough bands cause symptoms.
The condition commences with pain and slight stiffness of the shoulder joint. Many individuals with this condition may have the shape of their bones altered such that there is less space than others who do not have the condition. Even small thickenings of the tendons or bursa can cause symptoms.
Causes/ risk factors
Car accident- The direct impact after a car accident may cause swelling of the bursa
Accidents at work- Repeated and prolonged use of shoulder joint at work that involves a lot of repetitive lifting movements or performing overhead activities may eventually result in the condition.
These activities eventually cause continuous or intermittent friction of the bursa, which results in its swelling and causes bursitis of the shoulder.
Sports Injury- Some athletes suffer more often with shoulder joint bursitis than others, especially individuals in sports that involve a lot of overhead arm movements. The cause of the swelling of the bursa is constant trauma or friction during repeated shoulder joint movements.
Slow changes in your posture can also result in the development of inappropriate alignment of the shoulder joint which in turn may cause wear and tear on the tough bands and bursa by pinching them between the bony structures.
The wear and tear eventually results in swelling and pain and can lead to loss of movement and weakness.
Symptoms
Pain- Individuals complain of mild to moderate pain in the beginning, but afterwards the pain become very severe. Placing pressure or touching the top of bursa causes severe pain and even when the pressure is removed the pain still persists.
Pain is located mostly over the shoulder joint and may move into the elbow and wrist. It may also begin from the front of the shoulder and spread to the side of the arm.
Individuals also complain of pain when lying on their side during sleep or when resting or working. Movements of the shoulder joint also causes an increased intensity of pain, especially movements above the head and circular movements.
For example when the individual tries to lift or reach up for something. Other indications of the condition also include night pain and the beginning of the pain after falling on an outstretched arm.
Shoulder Joint Stiffness- this results due to the difficulty in moving the arm overtime due to pain and eventually the individual is unable to perform daily activities such as washing and drying clothes.
Loss of Strength – this also occurs due to inactivity of the affected shoulder joint. Eventually the muscles begin to lose their strength.
Swelling – this is noticeable in the front aspect of the affected shoulder joint of the individual.
Diagnosis
Shoulder bursitis can be diagnosed upon physical examination, using specific tests and conducting specific investigations as the condition may coexist with other conditions.
Findings which are consistent with the condition include pain directly over the bursa, pain with movement of shoulder muscles and tough bands/cords and the swelling of the Bursa.
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????X-ray does not show the swelling of the bursa is conducted to rule out other conditions for example,???? Osteoarthritis, broken bone or dislocation of the shoulder joint. An MRI is used to examine the affected bursa which is compared to the unaffected one.
To be continued...