If you’re experiencing pain, swelling, and tenderness in one of your shoulders, you may have what’s known as “shoulder bursitis.” Fortunately, if you’re in Durham, North Carolina, or a nearby community, you can turn to North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic. Our skilled orthopedists have extensive experience treating this condition, and we can provide you with the expert care you need and deserve.
What Is Shoulder Bursitis?
To understand what shoulder bursitis is, it helps to know what a bursa is. The human body contains about 160 bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs that help reduce friction so that tissues can easily glide against one another. Your shoulder joint contains a bursa that helps protect the tendons in your rotator cuff. When the bursa in your shoulder joint becomes inflamed — whether from injury, overuse, or another condition — it’s referred to as “shoulder bursitis.”
How Is Shoulder Bursitis Treated?
At North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic, we take a patient-centered approach to care, and we generally recommend that our patients attempt to relieve their symptoms with conservative methods before turning to surgery. When a patient has shoulder bursitis, conservative treatment is often aimed at reducing any inflammation, which may be accomplished by taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), icing the shoulder, wearing a brace, undergoing corticosteroid injections, and periodically resting the joint. In the event that conservative treatment isn’t sufficient, we may recommend surgery, which generally involves removing any damaged tissue and possibly even the bursa itself.
Get the Treatment You Need
If you’re living with shoulder pain and you think the cause could be shoulder bursitis, contact North Carolina Orthopaedic Clinic today. We’ll tell you more about our practice, answer any questions you may have, and help you schedule an appointment at our office in Durham, NC.