What is shoulder bursitis?

Bursitis is inflammation of the bursa. A bursa is a small sac of fluid that cushions a joint and helps it move easily. A bursa sits under the highest point of your shoulder. You can get bursitis by overusing your shoulder, which can happen with activities such as lifting, pitching a ball, or painting. Symptoms of bursitis include pain when you move your arm. Your arm may hurt when you try to lift it, and the pain can reach down the side of your arm. You may have trouble sleeping because of the pain.

Bursitis usually gets better if you avoid the activity that caused it. If pain lasts or gets worse despite home treatment, your doctor may draw fluid from the bursa through a needle. This may relieve your pain and help your doctor know if you have an infection. If so, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. If you have inflammation only, you may get a corticosteroid shot to reduce swelling and pain. Sometimes surgery is needed to drain or remove the bursa.

Bursitis or a tendon injury (tendinopathy) in the shoulder can cause pain on the outside or front of the upper arm. Common symptoms include pain, pinching, and stiffness when you raise your arm. These symptoms are often brought on by doing repeated overhead movements. Pain from bursitis or a tendon injury can keep you from moving your shoulder. Over time it can lead to stiffness and a decreased range of motion.

To prevent and ease shoulder pain:

• During work, play, or daily activities, avoid prolonged or repeated overhead reaching. But continue to use your shoulder.
• During specific sports activities:
  • Use proper throwing techniques.
  • Use a different swim stroke, such as the breaststroke or sidestroke, instead of the crawl or butterfly. Or alternate between strokes.
  • Avoid sports that require overhead use of the arms (such as racquet sports and volleyball) if you have shoulder pain.

• Put ice or a cold pack on your shoulder for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin.
• After 3 days of using ice, use heat on your shoulder. You can use a hot water bottle, a heating pad set on low, or a warm, moist towel. Some doctors suggest alternating between hot and cold.
• Rest your shoulder. Stop any activities that cause pain. Switch to activities that do not stress your shoulder.
• Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
• If your doctor recommends it, take anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce pain. These include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). Read and follow all instructions on the label.
• To prevent stiffness, gently move the shoulder joint through its full range of motion. As the pain gets better, keep doing range-of-motion exercises. Ask your doctor for exercises that will make the muscles around the shoulder joint stronger. Do these as directed.
• You can slowly return to the activity that caused the pain, but do it with less effort until you can do it without pain or swelling. Be sure to warm up before and stretch after you do the activity.