Bursitis vs. tendonitis – can you tell which one is causing your pain?
Limb and joint pain can occur at almost any age for several reasons. Two of the most common causes of this type of pain are tendonitis and bursitis.
To understand which one you may have, let’s first examine the characteristics of both conditions.
What do tendonitis and bursitis have in common?
The two types of inflammation of soft tissue are bursitis and tendonitis. The inflammation is often caused by trauma. This is oftentimes a repetitive small trauma but occasionally can be due to a significant severe trauma.
“The injured areas affected by both bursitis and tendonitis include knees, elbows, hips, ankles or wrists,” William Beach, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Bon Secours Tuckahoe Orthopedics, shares.
How do bursitis and tendonitis differ?
In areas of your body where structures come into contact – tendons, bones and muscles – fluid-filled sacs are present to allow those parts to glide smoothly over one another. Bursitis is inflammation of one of the small sacs. This is typically the result of overuse of this area of your body.
The most common areas in which people experience bursitis pain include the knees, elbows and hips.
As for tendonitis, your body has many cord-like structures called tendons, which connect muscle to bone to create motion. Tendonitis is inflammation of one of these tendons, and it is generally caused by repetitive motion of the associated muscle.
“We often see older patients complaining of tendonitis pain,” Dr. Beach says.
Common types of tendonitis are tennis elbow tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis in the heel or calf and jumper’s knee tendonitis.
So, how do we diagnose the cause of your pain?
As with any injury, your provider will begin with a medical history and physical examination. They may order X-rays to rule out problems that might stem from your bones, like a fracture. Your provider also needs to know where and when the pain occurs to identify the correct diagnosis and to create the treatment plan.
Diagnosing the problem as either bursitis or tendonitis has a lot to do with where your injury is located. However, differentiating between the two may be more challenging in the shoulder, as the inflammation of fluid-filled sacs is often associated with tendonitis.
Again, your provider can determine which is more likely to be the issue based on your particular signs and symptoms.
“Tenderness to touch, strength and resistance testing, as well as joint stability testing, will aid us in identifying the correct diagnosis,” Dr. Beach adds.
The treatment of bursitis vs. tendonitis
For both bursitis and tendonitis, treatment often begins with RICE, which stands for rest, ice, compression and elevation. This method assists in reducing inflammation, as well as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. Physical therapy could be ordered for the patient as well.
Tendonitis may result from repetitive occupational or recreational activities. Identifying and eliminating those activities or movements is a key element in the treatment of tendonitis.
In the case of bursitis, aspiration, or fluid draining, of the infected sacs may be prescribed, followed by corticosteroid injections to prevent further swelling. In rare instances, the sacs may be removed, either through arthroscopic or open surgery.
So now that you know about bursitis vs. tendonitis, it’s time to officially get you diagnosed and feeling better.
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