Bursitis: symptoms, causes, treatment and which doctor to see
Why a cushioning sac near a joint becomes painful and swollen, how bursitis differs from arthritis or infection, and when to see an orthopaedic doctor.
What bursitis is
A bursa is a small, slippery sac containing a little fluid. The body has many of them, placed where a tendon, muscle or the skin has to glide over bone. They work like tiny cushions, reducing friction every time you bend your knee, raise your arm or lean on your elbow. Bursitis is inflammation of one of these sacs. The bursa fills with extra fluid, swells and becomes painful to move or press on.
Bursitis most often affects the shoulder, the point of the elbow, the outer side of the hip, the front of the knee and the back of the heel. It is common, especially in middle age and later, and in people whose work or hobbies involve repeated movement or long periods of kneeling or leaning. Most cases settle in a few weeks with simple care, though it can come back if the cause is not addressed. The one form that needs urgent attention is bursitis caused by infection.
Symptoms
- Joint pain that is worse when you move the area or press on it, often a dull ache at rest
- Swelling over the joint; at the elbow or knee this can look like a soft, squashy lump
- Tenderness when you touch the spot, or lie on that side at night, as with hip bursitis
- Stiffness and reduced movement because of pain
- Redness and warmth over the area, which can be a sign of infection or gout
Shoulder bursitis often causes pain when lifting the arm above shoulder height or reaching behind the back. Hip bursitis hurts on the outer side of the hip and may spread down the thigh, especially when climbing stairs or lying on that side. Knee bursitis at the front of the kneecap was once called housemaid's knee because of long hours of kneeling to clean floors.
Causes and risk factors
Bursitis usually comes from overuse or pressure rather than a single injury. Things that make it more likely include:
- Kneeling for long periods — floor cleaning, tiling, gardening, some kinds of prayer or farm work
- Leaning on the elbows on a hard desk or table for hours
- Repeated overhead movements in painting, construction, cricket, badminton or swimming
- A direct knock or fall on the joint
- Ageing, as tendons become less elastic and more easily irritated
- Conditions such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes
- Differences in leg length, poor posture or arthritis in a nearby joint, which change how a joint is loaded
Septic bursitis happens when bacteria get into the bursa, often through a small cut or scrape over the elbow or knee. People with diabetes, a weakened immune system or who drink heavily are more at risk. It needs prompt treatment so the infection does not spread.
How it is diagnosed
Most bursitis is diagnosed by examination. The doctor will ask about your work, sport and recent injuries, look at and feel the joint, and test how it moves. Bursitis can be confused with tendinitis, arthritis, a torn tendon or a pinched nerve, and sometimes more than one is present. Tests are used when the picture is unclear:
- Ultrasound — shows a swollen, fluid-filled bursa and nearby tendons, and can guide an injection
- X-ray — does not show the bursa but can reveal arthritis, calcium deposits or a bone problem
- Aspiration — fluid is drawn from the bursa with a needle and tested for infection, gout crystals or blood
- Blood tests when infection, gout or an inflammatory arthritis is suspected; MRI is occasionally used
Treatment
Non-infected bursitis usually improves within a few weeks once the irritation stops. Treatment aims to calm the inflammation and protect the area while it heals:
- Rest from the activity that set it off — not complete immobility, but avoiding kneeling, leaning or repeated overhead movement
- Ice wrapped in a cloth, applied for short periods several times a day in the first few days; never put ice directly on skin
- Painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines your doctor or pharmacist recommends; these are not suitable for everyone, for example people with stomach ulcers, kidney disease or some heart conditions
- Padding or a cushion to take pressure off the elbow or knee
- Physiotherapy to restore movement and strengthen the muscles around the joint, which also helps stop it coming back
If pain persists, your doctor may suggest a steroid injection into or around the bursa, sometimes under ultrasound guidance. It can give good relief, but repeated injections are generally limited, and injections are avoided when infection has not been ruled out.
Septic bursitis is treated with antibiotics, and the bursa may need to be drained with a needle. Surgery to remove a bursa is uncommon and is usually reserved for infection that does not respond, or bursitis that keeps returning despite other treatment.
Preventing it from coming back
- Use knee pads or a folded mat when kneeling, and get up regularly to stretch
- Avoid resting your elbows on hard surfaces; adjust your desk and chair
- Warm up before sport and build up new activities gradually
- Keep a healthy weight to reduce load on the hips and knees
- Strengthen the shoulder, hip and thigh muscles with exercises a physiotherapist shows you
- Clean and cover cuts over the elbow or knee to reduce the risk of infection
When to see a doctor urgently
See a doctor the same day if the joint becomes very red, hot and swollen, if you have a fever or feel unwell, if you cannot move the joint, or if there is a wound over the swelling. These can be signs of infection, which needs prompt treatment. People with diabetes should be particularly careful.
Call 112 or 108, or go to the nearest emergency department, if a red, swollen joint comes with high fever, shivering, confusion, fast breathing or feeling faint, as infection may be spreading into the blood.
Which doctor to see
A general physician can diagnose and treat most bursitis. An orthopaedic doctor is the right specialist when pain lasts beyond a few weeks, the diagnosis is uncertain, an injection or drainage is being considered, or bursitis keeps coming back. A physiotherapist helps with recovery and prevention, and a rheumatologist is involved when gout or an inflammatory arthritis is behind it.
You can find orthopaedic surgeons in Bengaluru or physiotherapists in Bengaluru on The Doctor Index, each with a registration you can check.
Common questions
Questions people ask
- What is the difference between bursitis and arthritis?
- Arthritis affects the joint itself — the cartilage and lining inside it. Bursitis affects a cushioning sac outside the joint. Bursitis pain is usually over one spot and worse when pressed, while arthritis tends to cause deeper pain and stiffness. They can occur together, so examination and sometimes imaging help.
- How long does bursitis take to heal?
- With rest from the trigger, ice and gentle exercise, most bursitis improves over a few weeks. It can take longer if the activity that caused it continues or if the bursa is infected. Bursitis that lasts for months should be reviewed by an orthopaedic doctor.
- Should I massage or apply heat to a swollen bursa?
- In the first few days ice is usually more helpful than heat for a swollen, painful bursa. Avoid deep massage over it. If the area is red and hot, or you have a fever, do not treat it at home; see a doctor because it could be infected.
- Is a steroid injection for bursitis safe?
- An injection given by a trained doctor is a common and generally safe treatment when infection has been ruled out. Side effects can include a brief flare of pain and skin thinning or lightening at the site. Doctors usually limit how many injections are given in one place.
This condition is usually assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon. Every profile shows the doctor’s registration and what has been checked.
Orthopaedic surgeons in Bangalore
A few orthopaedic surgeons listed on The Doctor Index. They are shown because of their speciality, not a stated interest in Bursitis; ask the clinic whether the doctor sees it.
Related conditions
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Fractures
- Herniated Disk
- Muscle Cramps
- Osteoporosis
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Scoliosis
Practical reading
All postsSources
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine — Bursitis
- Government of India — Emergency Response Support System (112)
- MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine — Bursitis — Public-domain health-topic summary
Bursitis: symptoms, causes, treatment and which doctor to see is original text by The Doctor Index; the compiled source draft was used for research. Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Orphadata Science: Free access data from Orphanet. © INSERM 1999; July 2026 data, CC BY 4.0. This product uses the Human Phenotype Ontology (hp/releases/2026-09-01). Only sources listed for this article apply. Source material has been selected and arranged; HPO definitions are reproduced without alteration. No source organisation endorses this compilation. Köhler S et al. The Human Phenotype Ontology project: linking molecular biology and disease through phenotype data. Nucleic Acids Research 2014;42(D1):D966–D974. doi:10.1093/nar/gkt1026.
General information, not advice about your situation. Errors can be reported through the corrections process. Reference TDI-C-0405.