Bursitis is a real pain

February 14, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 60-year-old female teacher, very active and on my feet all day. I go to the gym several times a week and do other activities. I was diagnosed with bursitis nine months ago. I had a cortisone injection at that time and all was well until a month ago. I returned to the doctor, got another injection and an anti-inflammatory script. I quickly felt like a 20-year-old, able to run upstairs, etc. A few days after I finished the prescription, the bursitis returned. I can’t walk without limping due to the pain. I have great difficulty walking up stairs and cannot sleep on that side. I am still going to the gym, despite the pain. I also have arthritis in my knees but not in my hips. What do you recommend?

DEAR READER: A bursa is a fluid-filled sac whose function is to reduce friction between moving tissues of the body. Major bursae are found next to the tendons near all large joints such as the hips, [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With:

Weightlifting can be a pain

November 5, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have osteoarthritis, bursitis and tendinitis in both shoulders and upper arms. I hurt both shoulders while lifting weights. What is the best treatment to reduce the inflammation? Is it ice or ultrasound? Would it help to immobilize my shoulder joints with arm slings? Lifting my arms away from my body and above my head causes the most pain.

Would it hurt to try and do light exercise? Is it better to wait until the inflammation and pain go away? With proper treatment, how long do you think it will take to heal?

Would an MRI test on both shoulders help to determine how much inflammation is present and whether there are any muscle tears in the shoulder joints? I would appreciate any insight and information you can provide.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cortisone appropriate for arthritis

February 23, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 54-year-old female with osteoarthritis in both hips. My general practitioner sent me to an out-of-state specialist who recommended cortisone injections. When I tried to have cortisone injections done by a local specialist, I was told that they would not help me because I don’t have bursitis.

I am most uncomfortable when I stand still, sit or lie down for any length of time. Using a heating pad several times during the night helps alleviate the muscle cramping, though. I have more pain in my lower back/sacral area, knees and thigh muscles than in the hips themselves. Who is right? Would the cortisone injections really help? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column, Leading Letter Tagged With: , , ,

Bursitis Difficult To Treat

January 12, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 63-year-old female. I have been about 20 pounds overweight for the last 10 years. I had two back surgeries, one at L4 and the other at L5, nearly 30 years ago.

My current problem is inflammation of the bursa sacs in both of my hips. I have seen two physicians, three orthopedists and a physical therapist. I have had two cortisone shots, three different prescription anti-inflammatories and work out in a heated pool. So far nothing seems to be helping.

Ten years ago I took an office job and sit for eight hours a day. About that same time I started Lipitor. Two years ago I stopped for six weeks (with doctor approval) but the hip pain did not go away. My doctors keep telling me that it is hard to heal this type of problem but I am tired of hurting. I cannot lie on either side and am unable to walk even a single city block. Please help! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: , ,

Daily Column

September 30, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Please discuss the difference between bursitis and arthritis.

I went to my orthopedic doctor because of pain in my hip. It starts in the joint and travels down the thigh and is especially painful at the tendon along the shinbone. I also have right leg weakness when pressure is applied or when walking upstairs. He said the pain was caused by bursitis, not arthritis. He showed me an exercise to try and told me to continue my regular walks.

I take over-the-counter pain relievers, use castor oil and Castiva. Should I continue using these joint medicines or should I use muscle creams to relieve the nighttime pain? I am 88 and do not consider this worthy of surgery but it would be nice to sleep though the night. I’m tired of having to wake up to take another pill.

DEAR READER:
Arthritis and bursitis [Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: , ,