The shoulder consists of a head and a socket and rotates smoothly every day during movement. The bursa is used to ensure that the movement of the muscles together with the interlocking bone parts runs smoothly. This is, as it were, a pocket filled with moisture, which, as it were, forms the oil for the proper running of the engine. This bursa can become irritated, causing it to swell. This causes the bursa to become pinched, causing the shoulder joint to hurt. What causes bursitis in the shoulder joint and how is the healing process promoted?

Shoulder bursitis

• Symptoms
• How can bursitis be treated?
• Orthopedic surgery
• Shoulder recovery

Symptoms

Bursitis can occur because the shoulder and arms are overloaded or because there is a tear in a muscle. The bursa becomes irritated and swells. The so-called bursitis in the shoulder can have the following characteristics:

• the swelling manifests itself in warmth and redness and can visibly bulge on the skin;
• the swelling hurts because from within there is pressure on the joint and surrounding tissue;
• the pain can radiate to other parts of the body such as the neck, elbow and possibly the back.

Besides the fact that bursitis occurs in the shoulder joint, it can occur in several places in the human body. Basically anywhere where limbs show a movement such as:

• the heel at the Achilles tendon (achillobursitis) and knee;
• the elbow, wrist and shoulder;
• the hips (femoral head necrosis).

If there is a bursitis, it is always wise to continue exercising despite the pain because this promotes recovery.

How can bursitis be treated?

Bursitis is treated in different ways, depending on the severity of the condition. Consider the following.

Limited pain

If the severity of the swelling is limited, the pain can be controlled with medication. The physiotherapist provides additional treatment to the shoulder to keep the shoulder joint flexible. The complaints usually decrease.

Severe pain

If pain medication is not sufficient, you can consider injecting the bursa with an anesthetic and adrenal cortex hormone. This has an inflammation suppressive effect. In most cases, the inflammation will decrease after the injection and the swelling will become smaller. As a result, the pain decreases and the condition disappears.

Chronic infection

If there is chronic bursitis, the condition does not simply go away. Surgical intervention must be performed.

Orthopedic surgery

If chronic bursitis has been diagnosed in the shoulder, surgical intervention may provide a solution. How the procedure is performed depends on the condition of the inflammation. To do this, first look at the shoulder. This can be done with an MRI scan, but keyhole surgery is often also performed. To this end, an incision of approximately five centimeters is made in the skin at the front of the shoulder. The visible muscle is then incised lengthwise, creating an opening to the bursa. The surgeon can then perform the following procedures:

• the bursa is removed;
• more space is created in the shoulder roof, so that the swelling has room to recover.

Shoulder recovery

In order for the bursa to recover, the shoulder must be given sufficient rest after the surgical procedure. For a period of one month to one and a half months, the arm must be worn in a sling, but the sling may only be removed during washing or exercise. After the first month, a physiotherapy program is started to improve shoulder and arm functions. Please note that no intensive sports may be performed for six months.

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