DEAR DR. GOTT: I am an active 50-year-old man with chronic shoulder pain. My doctor, a sports-medicine surgeon, wants to remove the bursa sac and maintains that the sac is not necessary. Because I would like to remain active — especially in the gym — I am skeptical.
DEAR READER: A bursa is defined as a small, fluid-filled sac whose purpose is to reduce friction between bodily tissues. There are 160 bursae throughout the body, all of which are located in areas of large joints, such as the knees, elbows, hips and shoulders. The main symptom of bursitis of the shoulder is severe pain, primarily on movement. Causes include arthritis, infection, injury to the site or, most likely in your case, overuse.
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