Week 168 :: What Should One Do If They Have Bursitis?

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TOPIC: What Should One Do If They Have Bursitis?

For the week of: July 31st - August 5th
Tuesday @ Midnight Is The Final Cut (Mountain Time, US & Canada).

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Consistent working out can lead to a painful inflammation called bursitis.

What should one do if they develop bursitis?

How can you prevent bursitis?

What are some treatment options?

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[SuperMitch]

In May 08 I was diagnosed with bursitis of the knee. Debilating to the point where I ended up on a cane. By June 30th I was cane free and back in the gym.

1. If you feel the onset of bursitis (advanced inflammation in the tissue/joint). Cease exercising that area immediately. Bursitis is an indicator of a more serious internal dilemma known in medical circles as Chronic Inflammation.

2. Bursitis can be prevented medicinally by taking anti-inflammatories 1 hour before a workout and icing affected area.

3.Prevention includes taking Tylenol arthritis or a doctor prescribed medicine, or what worked for me holistically with 1/2 cup blueberries # 2 on the ORAC scale , 1-2 tblspn milled flaxseed, 1 cup pomegranite juice, all high anti-flammatory, anti-oxidant natural rememdies and 1 scoop protein powder to repair muscle tissue, mixed in a blender taken daily.

FATFREEMitchD

[Stonecoldtruth]

Subbed as a reminder to participate again this week!

[travisjw]

If you overuse or repetitively stress your body's joints by working out, you may eventually develop a painful inflammation called bursitis. Your body has more than 150 bursae(small fluid-filled sacs that lubricate and cushion pressure points between your bones and the tendons and muscles near your joints). Bursitis occurs when one of the bursae becomes inflamed.

1.If you have bursitis you may have a dull ache or stiffness in the area around your elbow, hip, knee, shoulder big toe, or other joints. If one develops bursitis, quit all exercising and try and rest up for two weeks and see if it goes away.

2.The number one reason that a bodybuilder or someone who workouts a lot is lack of stretching!!! So to prevent brusitis STRECH!!!!! Strech for 5 minutes before you workout and jog on a treadmill or jog in place to get the blood pumping.

3.Most of the time bursitis is simple to treat. Rest for a few weeks will usually cure it up(Applying ice will take off some pain while you rest for a few weeks).
Sometimes, physical therapy or exercises to strengthen the muscles in the area. Additionally, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid drug into the bursa to relieve inflammation. This treatment generally brings immediate relief and, in many cases, one injection is all you'll need. Occasionally, it requires aspiration of the bursa fluid. This procedure involves removal of the fluid with a needle and syringe under sterile conditions. It can be performed in the doctor's office

There are lots of home remedies, NSAIDS(nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)aspirin, advil, motrin, or naproxen sodium can provide relief. Evelating the affected joint can reduce swelling. Keep pressure off your joint. If possible, use an elastic bandage, sling or soft foam pad to protect a joint until the swelling goes down

[D-Bomb]

Enjoy.

[LesterGene]

Consistent working out can lead to a painful inflammation called bursitis.

What should one do if they develop bursitis?

Stop what you are doing if unusual pain occurs. Try again later and if pain recurs, do not continue the activity that day and talk to your doctor or coach about safer methods.

How can you prevent bursitis?

Bursitis is often the result of a hard impact on a joint or overworking a joint, and sometimes these injuries are unpreventable. But there are some steps you can take to prevent getting bursitis:

* Don't overdo it. Too much of anything can be bad, and the same goes for overworking joints.

* Start and stop workouts properly. One of the best ways to prevent bursitis is by working out properly. Warming up and cooling down are essential parts of working out and should never be skipped. Gradually starting and stopping your workout is less stressful for your joints and body.

* Stretch it out. Stretching not only helps improve flexibility but it is also useful in preventing bursitis.

* Mix it up. Whether you're rotating exercises while lifting weights or just taking a breather from a strenuous activity, your joints will thank you.

* Get padded. Use cushions on wooden or metal chairs and knee pads when kneeling on hardwood or concrete floors to help reduce the risk of developing bursitis. Also avoid putting extreme amounts of pressure or weight directly on joints.

* Keep it moving. Don't stay planted on your butt, knees, or other joints for long periods of time. Even if it's for a few minutes, get up and move around.

What are some treatment options?

In most cases, you will probably be able to treat bursitis at home.

The key part of at-home treatment, as with many injuries, is rest. Besides resting the affected joint or region, to help get rid of bursitis try:

* Ice Packs. Ice should be used on the bursitis while the inflamed area is still warm to the touch. Ice can be applied several times a day for up to 20 minutes. Icing the area will also help to lessen the swelling that can occur with bursitis.

* The heat. Putting heat on the joint when it is no longer warm to the touch can reduce the pain. As with ice, don't apply heat for more than 20 minutes at a time.

* Elevate. Raising a joint that is swollen for any reason can help to reduce swelling. That goes for bursitis, too. If possible, elevate the affected joint so it is above the level of the heart.

* Keep it under pressure. Avoid placing pressure on the joint. This will aggravate bursitis rather than help it to heal.

* Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen may help.


*Warning*

Contact your doctor immediately if you have:

* Fever over 100 Fahrenheit
* Swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected area
* General illness or multiple sites of pain
* Inability to move the affected area

[Poppa Pump]

Bursitis: Why you should care about Bursas.

A Bursa is a fluid filled sack that cushions bones, tendons and muscles around a joint. When a Bursa is put under too much stress it can lead to a dull ache or stiffness, pain with movement, and swelling; symptoms of Bursitis. Bursitis affects different joints differently but they do all share one thing in common: physical activity can cause them. According to MayoClinic.com ?f you work in a profession or have a hobby that requires repetitive motion, you're at an increased risk of developing bursitis.? And that puts us weightlifters at an increased risk. The good news is that bursitis is not typically a threat until middle age, but younger weightlifters can be affected. If you are a weightlifter who is middle aged or older it is important to be familiar with what Bursitis is, how to treat it and how to prevent it.

Symptoms:

Disabling or persistent pain
Swelling, redness, a rash or bruising
Sharp pain (especially during physical exertion)
Fever

If you present any of these symptoms it is likely that you have bursitis. The immediate course of action is to make an appointment with a medical doctor. Below you will find information on the prevention and treatment of bursitis. Though the information is accurate and can be helpful in treating bursitis it still requires a professional diagnosis.

Prevention:

The best way to treat an injury is to avoid it all together. According to the Mayo Clinic, properly warming up and stretching, strength training, taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks, and practicing good posture can help to prevent bursitis.

Treatment:

The most important element of bursitis treatment is rest. If a weightlifter develops bursitis in a particular joint he or she needs to lay off of the affected area. Aside from severe cases, bursitis can be treated effectively from home. Ice can be used to reduce swelling as well as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as asprin). Light stretching should also be part of the recovery plan as it helps to restore the affected joint?s range of motion. With a treatment plan like this, bursitis will disappear within a few weeks.



The Take Home Message:

In-all bursitis is not a crippling or debilitating disorder. Bursitis does however lead to discomfort and the inability to exert oneself physically. By definition weightlifters are at greater risk for developing bursitis than the rest of the population. Therefore it is very important for us weightlifters to be familiar with it. Bursitis may not cause much damage at first, but noticing it early and treating it properly will save a lot of headache and heartache down the road when you are faced with a long recovery that could have been easily avoided.

[RoadPigJohn]

Bursitis is an inflammation or irritation of the bursa. The bursa is a bag filled with liquid lubricant, located between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons and skin. The Bursa help reduce friction and irritation and help the joints move more easily. There are over 150 bursa in the body. The bursitis occurs when a bursa becomes inflamed, and this causes pain and discomfort. The pain can be increased slowly or can be instantaneous and severe, especially when there are deposits of calcium.

What should one do if they develop bursitis?

In the majority of cases when bursitis is developed, it can be cure in a couple of weeks with the assistance of your physician. So if you feel any of the following symptoms then take care of yourself by visiting him.

Symptoms:

-Severe pain in the area you developed bursitis
-Fever
-The affected area by bursitis is red and inflamed

In addition, go to the doctor if you have other medical illnesses that can increase your risk of infection, or whether those taking some medications that may increase the risk, such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive.


How can you prevent bursitis?

Because in many of the cases, bursitis is caused by the overuse of a muscle, tendon, or ligament, the best treatment is prevention. It is very important to avoid activities that cause the problem. If there are other conditions, such as differences in the size of the legs, bad posture, bad technique in sports or at work, they must be corrected before anything. Some positions such as sitting or kneeling may increase pressure on the joints significantly.

Apply these basic rules when you do exercises:
-Start slow and make more and more each time to raise your level of activity.
-Use limited sets and limited repetitions.
-Stop exercise if you have any abnormal pain.
-Use cushions and pillows to reduce pressures.

What are some treatment options?

The goals of treatment include reductions in pain and inflammation, such as preserving mobility and disability and prevent recurrence of the disease.

The recommendations for treatment may include a combination of rest, splints, or applying heat or cold. You may need some more advanced treatments including:

-Injections of corticosteroids provided by your physician (They work quickly to reduce inflammation and pain).
-Physical Therapy which includes extensive movements to improve mobility (This can be very beneficial).
-Surgery, if you are not responding well to other treatments.

As a summary my recommendation for people who suffer from bursitis is to follow these recommendations:

Eating clean can be beneficial include generous amounts of carrots, citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetables and take a daily multivitamin with minerals along with additional supplements of vitamin A and B.

Keeping the area affected with slight movement in the acute phase of bursitis, should be left to sleep articulation affected, but without being completely immobilized. Then, when passing acute, it is recommended perform simple exercises like these:

If you have bursitis, should be placed your hand on the wall and must be walking fingers along it, upwards as high as possible without stretching too much.

Another exercise that helps people with bursitis in his shoulder is to make the pendulum, bowing, standing, forward and letting the arm swing back and forth like a pendulum, gradually increasing the arc.

For bursitis in the hip or leg, I recommend massaging an area of two inches between the ankle bone and the beginning of the heel pad.

Keep the area warmed for speed recovery.

Remove shoes that are too tight if you have bursitis in the heel.

Taking care Use protective knees or elbows as the case and avoid lie with the elbow or crawling on their knees.

RoadPigJohn

[korbensinclair]

Consistent working out can lead to a painful inflammation called bursitis.
The inflammation occurs in the small fluid-filled sacs called bursae that
cushion and lubricate the points of pressure between bones, tendons and
muscles near movement intensive joints. The human body has over 150 such
bursae which provide bodybuilders ample locations with-which to injure
themselves.

In early 2003 I lifted a heavy trashcan over my head and into the
bed of a truck. At the peak of the movement, I felt a slip and sharp
shooting pain in both shoulders. After an inconclusive and expensive MRI,
the doctor informed me that he didn't think there was any kind of permanent
damage to my rotator cuff, but that I had a condition known as bursitis. My
range of motion was limited in both shoulders and I was in constant pain. I
spent the next year and a half recovering. I was unable to do shoulder
exercises for a year, and was unable to do any kind of bench for a year and
a half. When I was able to go back to benching, I had to have a spotter at
all times as my right arm would suddenly go out on me without warning.
Bursitis can be disastrous for any serious lifter or bodybuilder. I still
have mild issues even today, 5 years after the injury.

Shoulders are the most injury prone part of the body for a lifter to
develop bursitis, but don't think that other body parts are immune! You can
develop bursitis in the knee, elbow, hips, ankle, even your big toe! You
would be amazed at how much we depend on our big toe for balance, even a
small injury there could be devastating for a bodybuilder.

What should one do if they develop bursitis? What are some treatment
options?

Bursitis can range in severity from mild inflammation to more
serious extreme inflammation. The level of treatment will depend on how
badly you feel your bursitis is affecting you. Stay in tune with your body,
you are the best judge of what is wrong with you.

For mild inflammation, apply ice to the region where you are
experiencing the pain. Do NOT alternate heat and cold. This is not a
muscle that you are treating; it is a fluid filled sac! Apply ice for 10 to
15 minutes, but not directly to the skin. Take the ice off and let your
body return to natural temperature for 20 to 30 minutes, then reapply the
ice and repeat for as long as you feel pain.

For mild to medium bursitis, you may also want to take an over the
counter anti-inflammatory. Simple ibuprofen will help take down the
swelling, particularly if you couple it with icing.

For extreme bursitis, you may need to see a doctor for
corticosteroid drug injection directly into the bursa. Such injections
usually bring about immediate relief in just one shot.

In all cases, you should rest and limit the amount of pressure you put on
the affected area by immobilizing it as best you can. However, once the
majority of the swelling has gone down and the pain has subsided, you will
want to do some light stretching and very light full range of motion
exercises on the affected area to strengthen and loosen up the area.


How can you prevent bursitis?

Bursitis can be avoided most easily by WARMING UP prior to lifting
heavy, knowing your limits, and avoiding exercises that will pinch the
bursae.

I warm up my shoulders and rotator cuffs prior to any upper body
work-out. It doesn't matter if its chins, benching, deltoid work or arms, I
do a light warm-up of shoulders. When I do lower body, I warm up my knees
with leg extensions and my hips by doing some practice no weight squats.
Warming up the muscles and tendons surrounding your bursae will help them
take on any additional stress rather than putting that stress on your
bursae.

Any doctor will tell you to avoid heavy lifting over your head or
doing any kind of squat type motion with weight. Yet we are bodybuilders.
There is no way we are going to give up our shoulder and leg days. Instead
we take all precautions we can. We warm-up, and we know our limits.
Lifting too much over your head or at the incorrect angle is an easy way to
get injured.

Avoid exercises that make you pull or push something behind your
head as these put undue stress on your shoulders. Keep proper form on all
squats and dead lifts and don't go so low that you might pinch the bursae in
your knees.

Stay safe, lift hard, and get big!

[joakman]

Poured all the knowledge I could into this article.

I hope people actually read these articles.