How is bursitis diagnosed?

A bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that helps tissues glide near a joint. The clinician asks about pressure, kneeling, repetitive movement, a blow, skin problems, or recent infection. They look for local tenderness, soft swelling, warmth, restricted movement, and pain when nearby muscles or tendons are used. Joint Swelling can have causes beyond bursitis, including arthritis or infection. Ultrasound may show fluid around a bursa. If infection or crystals are a concern, a sample of fluid may be taken for laboratory testing.

Avoid pressure and the movement that repeatedly irritates the area, while keeping comfortable joint movement. Padding, activity changes, and guided rehabilitation may help. Anti-Inflammatory Medication may be considered after a clinician checks whether it is suitable for you. A Cortisone Injection is sometimes discussed for selected non-infectious cases. Joint Aspiration can both test fluid and relieve pressure in some situations; it must be performed by a trained clinician.

Get prompt medical attention if swelling is hot, red, rapidly increasing, or accompanied by fever or feeling unwell. Urgent review is also needed when severe pain prevents movement, after a significant injury, or when the skin over the area is broken. Do not inject or drain a swollen area yourself.

Ask which bursa is involved, whether infection needs to be excluded, and whether fluid testing or imaging would change treatment. Ask how to protect the joint at work or during sport and when pressure can be reintroduced.