Bursitis is the inflammation of the bursa, small sacks filled with synovial fluid, in the body. There are several myths surrounding the disease that are far from the facts. Mentioned below are the popular myths about bursitis along with the associated facts respectively.
Surgical therapy is the best possible treatment for bursitis
Bursae are small sacs that contain synovial fluid and they act as lubricating agents between the muscles, tendons and bones. Their swelling is known as bursitis. Surgery is definitely not the first option for anyone suffering from bursitis. This myth could have arisen from the fact that when arthritis of the knee becomes painful, knee replacement is the most effective option. But in case of swollen bursae that are not infected, physiotherapy, rest, ice treatment and anti-inflammatory medication help. Even if the bursae are infected, antibiotic therapy can be done. It is only when all else fails that surgical therapy, where the bursae are cut out openly or endoscopically, is considered. Thus, it is the last resort and not the only solution.
A compression bandage would help ease bursitisThis is a myth that is harmful! Bursitis presents itself as swelling with soreness and redness. Usually, any swelling is treated with a compression bandage to prevent aggravation. When it comes to bursitis, it is caused due to the friction that exists between adjacent structures at the joints. The friction causes obstruction to movement and thus results in painful swellings. Compression at such joints will create pressure and increase both, the active friction and passive friction that exists at the joint. Thus, a compression bandage becomes counterproductive and contraindicated. Instead, some advanced massage therapy techniques could be adopted to ease bursitis.Bursitis in the knee, also known as housemaid’s knee, affects only womenNames often play a confusing role. That is the cause of this myth! Prepatellar bursitis or the housemaid’s knee is the swelling that occurs over the patella or the kneecap. The usual cause of this condition is repetitive work done in a kneeling position. The condition can be aseptic where there is only inflammation or can be septic with infection too. The facts about who gets it is actually shocking. It has been found to be more common in men than women! The septic variants of housemaid’s knee is common in children who spend a lot of time on all fours and, thus, on their knees. It also occurs in immuno-compromised individuals.The old and elderly suffer more often from bursitis than the youngIt is easy to understand the source of this myth. Bursitis closely resembles arthritis in its pain and symptoms. Since the old and elderly are more susceptible to arthritis, the same is believed to be true for bursitis. The fact of the matter, however, is that any hobby or job which involves repetitive movements increases the chance of developing bursitis. So, people of all age groups are susceptible to it for it is job-related. The Morrison study done to determine susceptibility top bursitis had some startling findings: patients below 20 years and those above 40 years of age fared better than those between 21 to 40 years. This shows that bursitis has greater correlation with work being done.If care is taken to prevent traumatic injury, one does not suffer bursitisTraumatic injury is known to cause the bursae to get inflamed. This inflammation makes them a misfit in the small area that exists between the bone and the tendons or muscles. Thus, there is irritation and the bone pressure on bursa increases. Thus, bursitis is the result. However, most cases of bursitis are because of repeated and prolonged wear and tear rather than a sudden and heavy blow or injury. Other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and some chronic systemic diseases are also known to cause bursitis. Prevention of traumatic injury alone is, therefore, no guarantee that one will not suffer from bursitis.Good posture has nothing to do with bursitisTrochanteric bursitis is a condition that arises from the swelling of the bursae in the hip region. Though the hips are affected, the cause of the problem traces to the structures that support the hip joint. Thus, the posture of the legs and the structure and positioning of the feet become very important. Good fitting shoes and proper footwear go a long way in preventing this kind of bursitis. In fact, people with flat feet have a greater chance of getting affected with this form of bursitis also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome. Such people are advised to wear proper orthotic inserts and replace them regularly as directed. The myth could have arisen from the fact that the posture and affected limbs do not seem to be connected superficially.Once affected with bursitis, you are stuck with it for lifeStudies have revealed that patients affected with bursitis showed recurrence of symptoms, after some time, in the observation period itself. The recurrences have egged people into thinking that once a patient suffers from bursitis, that is the way of life. It is not true because these symptoms, too, responded well to rest and proper massages. If the patients keep away from the repetitive activity or exercise that caused bursitis in the first place, they are quite safe. In cases where surgery has been done, it was found that the bursae grew back in place within a couple of weeks and they showed absolutely no inflammatory components. Thus, bursitis is not a life sentence.
