The best shoulder bursitis treatment is one that reduces inflammation; doing so decreases the severity of the problem as well as the pain involved. Bursitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sac between the body's bones and joints. In the case of the shoulder area, movement of the affected arm may be painful as well as aggravate the condition. While arm movements usually can't be avoided until shoulder bursitis subsides, avoiding moving the arms repeatedly in overhead motions is one of the best treatments.
Movements such as lifting weights or other objects above the shoulders can overstress shoulder joints and cause the bursa to become inflamed. The main symptoms of shoulder bursitis are pain and joint swelling. The best shoulder bursitis treatment for joint swelling is to treat the area with an ice pack. Ice packs should be wrapped in a towel before placing them on bare skin. Many cases of shoulder bursitis are caused by repetitive overhead movements, so these should be avoided whenever possible.
For people who sleep on their side, sleeping on the affected shoulder can aggravate the bursitis, so ideally that should be avoided. If resting and icing don't help heal the pain of the bursitis, medical help should be sought. Immediate professional medical attention should be sought if the shoulder joint is red and swollen; this often indicates infection. A doctor will prescribe antibiotics for infected shoulder bursitis treatment. Physicians may also administer several diagnostic tests that could include a blood test, ultrasound scan or x-ray.
If shoulder bursitis remains very painful, a doctor may treat it with cortisone injections. Cortisone is a hormone found naturally in the adrenal gland. Synthetic versions of cortisone are used as anti-inflammatory medicines by injecting them into joints to relieve pain and inflammation. Since shoulder bursitis is inflammation and cortisone is designed to relieve it, the injections can be the best shoulder bursitis treatment for reducing painful swelling.
If after three months, non-surgical treatments haven't been successful, surgery for shoulder bursitis may be the best treatment possible. Surgery for bursitis is rare though, since non-surgical treatments do often work to relieve the problem. Some bursitis sufferers may try other shoulder bursitis treatment options, such as acupuncture, before considering surgery. Acupuncturists insert tiny needles into the shoulder area to apply a steady pressure on specific points to encourage new blood flow into the bursa sac. Shoulder bursitis treatments such as acupuncture may be the best option in some cases because they may reduce the inflammation and help the joints move more fluidly.