Expert: Margot RN BScN CGN - 7/30/2002

Question
My friend is suffering great pain with Bursitis or Bursitus. She still has to go to work, although being on her feet makes things worse. Can you tell me just what Bursitis or Bursitus really is? Is there anything that can relieve the pain?
      Thank you, Myfanwy.

Answer
Bursitis, tendinosis, and tendinitis are painful conditions caused by overuse and repeated movements, by a sudden injury (trauma), or by gradual degeneration or aging. Bursitis can also be caused by arthritis inflammation or by infection (septic bursitis). The joint areas most commonly affected by bursitis and/or tendon injury are the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle. A person with bursitis or tendon injury may have pain, tenderness, and stiffness near the affected bursa or tendon. Local muscle weakness may also develop as a result of avoiding painful joint movement.


Bursitis is a term used to describe the painful inflammation of a bursa near a joint in the body. The inflammation can cause swelling and/or fluid buildup in the bursa.

Bursitis and tendinitis are caused by inflammation; tendinosis is caused by tissue breakdown. Treatment guidelines are generally the same for each of these conditions, but tendinosis may not respond to anti-inflammatory medication.1 Tendinosis treatment also requires a longer period of rest (than for bursitis or tendinitis) to allow for tendon regeneration. ["WebMD"]

Hope this helps,
margot