Elbow Bursitis: Everything You Need To Know About.

 What is elbow bursitis?

Bursa is a synovial fluid-filled sac underneath the skin at the elbow’s bony tip. It functions as a pad to lessen friction between the bones and the tendons. Elbow bursitis occurs due to the inflammation of the elbow bursa. This inflammatory action secretes excess synovial fluid causing lump formation from the elbow’s tip. Elbow bursitis is also known as Popeye’s elbow, student’s elbow, or miner’s elbow. The patient should consult only an elbow pain specialist NJ to relieve such kind of problem. 

What are the causes of Elbow Bursitis?

The causes of elbow bursitis include arthritis, gout, psoriasis, trauma or injury, leaning on the elbow for a prolonged duration, history of bursa inflammation, excessive pressure on the elbow, and infection that leads to septic bursitis. Certain medical conditions like diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (C.O.P.D.), and cancer are more susceptible to develop septic bursitis. Similarly, young people as well as mid-aged people who perform labor jobs, and those who take part in sports are likely to have septic bursitis. Consult an elbow pain doctor NJ to get the correct pain treatment in New Jersey.

What are the symptoms of Elbow Bursitis?

The common symptoms of elbow bursitis include pain, stiffness, tenderness, swelling, redness, warmth, restricted range of motion, and fever or chillness in case of infection.

In case of a hard blow, symptoms may occur at once. Else, they develop slowly and worsen over time. Especially, symptoms like swelling may go unnoticed. Such cases require the immediate attention of an elbow pain specialist in New Jersey.

To determine the exact cause, the pain doctor in New Jersey may recommend medical imaging tests such as X-ray, M.R.I., ultrasound, or fluid aspiration. The blood test of bursa aspirate fluid can check the infection or inflammation if any. 

Treatment of Elbow Bursitis:

The conventional treatment for elbow bursitis includes both non-surgical and surgical methods.

Initial treatment includes R.I.C.E. therapy (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation) as a home-based treatment. This remedy focuses on limiting the activities that may aggravate the bursal inflammation. Stretching and strengthening physical exercises strengthen the elbows and improve their range of motion. 

The administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) aims at reducing pain and inflammation. But its prolonged consumption may lead to potential side effects, including heart, gastrointestinal, and kidney problems.

Corticosteroid injections decrease swelling and provide relief only for a shorter period. But they have potential side effects such as skin degeneration at the elbow region and infection. Hence, physicians provide only 1-2 doses of injections a minimum of one month apart. 

The surgical treatment method from an elbow pain doctor NJ includes bursectomy, which involves the removal of an affected bursa. Your physician recommends it only if your symptoms do not improve with non-surgical modalities or you repetitively suffer from recurrent bursitis.

 Effect of Regenerative Medicine:

This is where our minimal invasive non-surgical regenerative medicine could help you recover from pain by repairing the damaged tissues naturally. Patients could see significant improvement in symptoms in 1-2 weeks of having regenerative treatment. The regenerative treatment stimulates your healing mechanism to promote tissue repair. It is a minimally invasive, same-day procedure with minimal recovery time. You will stay fully conscious during this procedure. There is no risk of rejection or cross-transmission of disease, as we use your cells harvested from your body.