The different types of bursitis and how they affect your body

Introduction

If you’ve ever woke up with a stiff shoulder, aching hip, or tender elbow and wondered “what on earth is going on?”, you’re not alone. Bursitis is a common but often misunderstood condition. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the different types of bursitis and how they affect your body so you can finally get some answers, and maybe even laugh (or groan) at a few real-life stories along the way. 

By the time you reach the end, you should feel like a mini-expert on bursitis, ready to chat with your doc, your gym buddy, or that one friend who always google-diagnoses themselves. Let’s get started!

What is bursitis?

First off, bursitis is basically the inflammtion of bursae, which are those tiny fluid-filled sacs cushioning your muscles, bones, and tendons at joints. Think of bursae as bubble-wrap for your joints they keep friction down and movement smooth. When they get irritated or infected, they swell up, and that’s what we call bursitis. It can feel like you’ve done 100 push-ups after sitting at your desk for hours.

There are over a dozen bursae in your body, but you’ll mostly hear about the ones around your shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and heels. Why? Because these are the spots we use the most and abuse, if you ask me.

Why knowing types matters

Understanding the different types of bursitis and how they affect your body isn’t just trivia for TV quiz shows. It’s practical info for real life. Whether you’re an athlete, a dancer, someone who sits hunched over a laptop for 10 hours a day (no judgements here), or just a human who dreams of pain-free living we all need to know which bursitis might be lurking around the corner.

• Diagnosis: Specific types present with different symptoms knowing them helps you get the right treatment faster.
• Treatment: Some bursitis types respond better to rest and ice, others might need antibiotics or even aspiration.
• Prevention: Once you know risk factors for each, you can tweak your workouts or daily habits to sidestep the worst offenders.

Okay, enough preamble time to break down the most common, less common, and rare forms of bursitis you might face.

Common types of bursitis: Shoulder and Knee

When someone says “bursitis,” they’re most often referring to shoulder or knee bursitis. These two are like the pop stars of the bursitis world everybody’s heard of them.

Shoulder bursitis (Subacromial bursitis)

Subacromial bursitis is the big one in shoulder troubles. It affects the bursa that sits just below your acromion (the roof of your shoulder blade). When that little sac fills with excess fluid, you’ll feel pain raising your arm like reaching for that top shelf cereal you forgot you had. Or maybe while you’re throwing a ball or even during a simple hair wash in the shower. 

Real-life story: My friend Jenna, an avid tennis player, started noticing sharp pains during backhand swings. She ignored it for months (classic), then finally saw a physio who diagnosed her with subacromial bursitis. Two weeks of rest, some gentle PT exercises, and she was back on the court though she swears by pre-match shoulder warm-ups now.

• Symptoms: Pain when lifting the arm, tenderness at the top of the shoulder, occasional swelling.
• Treatment: Rest, ice packs, NSAIDs (like ibuprofen), physiotherapy, and in stubborn cases, corticosteroid injections.

Knee bursitis (Prepatellar & Pes anserine bursitis)

Knee bursitis often shows up as either prepatellar (front of the kneecap) or pes anserine (inner side below the kneecap). Have you knelt down to plant flowers, only to find you can’t get back up without yelping? That’s a classic sign of prepatellar bursitis sometimes dubbed “housemaid’s knee” (though gardeners, plumbers, and tile-layers get it too). Pes anserine bursitis is less famous but can be equally nagging often hitting runners or overweight folks.

Quick anecdote: I once helped my dad lay carpet. I was about 14, feeling invincible, kneeling for hours. Next day bam prepatellar bursitis. It felt like a giant marshmallow had inflated over my kneecap. Ibuprofen and knee pads for life, man.

• Symptoms: Swelling in front of or below kneecap, pain when kneeling or squatting, warmth to touch.
• Treatment: Similar to shoulder rest, ice, compression, elevation (RICE), plus modifying activities.

Less common types: Hip and Elbow bursitis

We’re moving on to the slightly more stealthy offenders hip and elbow bursitis. You might not bump into these every day, but when you do, they can seriously cramp your style.

Hip bursitis (Trochanteric vs Iliopsoas bursitis)

Trochanteric bursitis is the type you hear about around the outside of your hip. Ever felt sharp pain when lying on your side in bed? Or while putting on jeans? That could be it. Iliopsoas bursitis, on the other hand, hides deep in the front pain shows up in groin area, especially when lifting the knee or pressing your hand into your lower belly.

Example: My cousin Sara, a marathon newbie, was three weeks into training when she started hobbling. Her physio said “trochanteric bursitis,” probably from upping her mileage too fast and sleeping on her left side (she admits she’s a side sleeper). A couple weeks of reduced training volume, some side-lying hip stretches, and she hit her next half-marathon injury-free.

• Symptoms: Lateral hip pain when climbing stairs or lying on side; groin pain and stiffness for iliopsoas.
• Treatment: RICE, NSAIDs, targeted stretching/strengthening, addressing gait or posture issues.

Elbow bursitis (Olecranon bursitis)

Elbow bursitis, or olecranon bursitis, is that ugly swelling right at your tip of the elbow. People sometimes call it “student’s elbow” or “miner’s elbow” because leaning on a desk or rock surface can irritate the bursa. If you’ve ever rested on your heel of your hand and felt a little bump or a huge one you know what this is.

Real-life example: My roommate accidentally knocked his elbow into a marble countertop. Next morning, his elbow looked like a grape soda can. We poked at it (bad idea), but luckily it wasn’t infected. He iced it, wore an elbow pad, and it gradually deflated over two weeks.

• Symptoms: Noticeable swelling, lump on the elbow, discomfort resting elbow on hard surfaces.
• Treatment: Protect with padding, rest from leaning activities, NSAIDs, sometimes aspiration if very large.

Rare forms: Trochanteric and Prepatellar bursitis in-depth

Now, even though we touched on trochanteric and prepatellar earlier, let’s get a bit geeky about the rare variants and nuances because everyone loves a good deep dive, right?

Deep Trochanteric bursitis (Ischiogluteal bursitis)

This one’s real sneaky: ischiogluteal bursitis. It affects the bursa between your sitting bone (ischial tuberosity) and gluteus maximus. Pain often comes when you sit for long periods fun at office, torture in the car. Historically, it was called “weaver’s bottom,” because weavers sat all day making fabric. Modern name: ischial bursitis. Symptoms can mimic hamstring strains or lower back issues, so docs sometimes miss it.

Treatment: Similar RICE approach, plus sometimes padding in the seat (a donut pillow is gold here). If it’s chronic, a cortisone shot might be on the table.

Septic bursitis (infected bursae)

This is the “worst-case scenario” you read about: septic bursitis. Bacteria get into the bursa (often Staph aureus), causing redness, warmth, fever, and intense pain. Unlike non-septic bursitis which can feel nagging septic bursitis feels like your joint is on fire. If you suspect this, don’t wait. Seek medical care immediately antibiotics, possible drainage, and close monitoring are key.

Side note: One of my patients got septic bursitis after a small elbow cut. She thought it was just a scratch, then woke up with elbow the size of an orange. Lesson: clean wounds, watch for redness and heat, and sometimes a follow-up with your doc is smarter than ignoring it.

Causes, Symptoms and Risk Factors for different types of bursitis

Across all these types, some themes recur. Let’s unpack what causes bursitis, the usual symptoms to watch for, plus who’s at higher risk. Knowledge is power, after all.

Common causes

• Repetitive motion: Sports, work tasks (e.g., plumbing, gardening), or hobbies that stress one joint over and over.
• Acute injury: Hard fall, bump, or cut that irritates or infects the bursa (leading to septic bursitis).
• Posture & biomechanics: Poor posture at a desk or bad running form can overload certain bursae like trochanteric from weak hips.
• Health conditions: Rheumatoid arthritis, gout, diabetes can predispose you to bursitis by weakening tissue or increasing inflammatory load.
• Age: Middle-aged folks often see more bursitis, since tissues get less forgiving over time.

Symptoms & risk factors

• Swelling or lump near a joint
• Pain with movement or direct pressure
• Warmth and redness (especially in septic cases)
• Stiffness or limited range of motion
• Systemic signs (fever, chills—again, septic bursitis!)

Risk factors you can’t change: your age, previous joint issues, family history of inflammatory conditions. Factors you can modify: activity levels, ergonomics, posture, footwear, and how fast you ramp up new exercise routines. Easing into new sports, alternating tasks, and using protective gear (knee pads, elbow pads, padded desk surfaces) go a long way.

One more heads-up: sometimes bursitis co-exists with tendonitis (tendon inflammation), making things more complex. That’s why a proper diagnosis often with ultrasound or MRI can help direct the right therapy.

Conclusion

Alright, we’ve covered a lot of ground on the different types of bursitis and how they affect your body from the blockbuster shoulder and knee varieties to the sneaky ischiogluteal and potentially dangerous septic forms. We’ve gone through causes, symptoms, treatments, and shared some real-life tales to hopefully keep things relatable.

Key takeaways:

• Understand the specific type of bursitis you might have — helps guide treatment.
• Don’t ignore persistent joint pain or swelling — early intervention is usually easier and faster.
• Use preventive strategies: ergonomics, protection, gradual training increases, and proper posture.
• If you see signs of infection—fever, redness, warmth—seek medical help right away.

Whether you’re a weekend warrior, a desk jockey, or somewhere in between, bursitis can strike when you least expect it. But with knowledge, you’re far better prepared to treat it promptly and get back to the activities you love. So next time you feel that twinge, you’ll know it might not just be “getting old”—it could be one of the many types of bursitis, and you’ll be ready to tackle it head-on (with ice packs, gentle stretches, doctor’s orders, etc.).

If you suspect you have bursitis, book an appointment with a healthcare professional today. A

FAQs

• Q: How long does bursitis usually last?

  A: Non-infectious bursitis often improves within 2–6 weeks with proper rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory measures. Chronic cases can linger months but usually respond to targeted therapy.

• Q: Can bursitis go away on its own?

  A: Mild bouts sometimes resolve spontaneously, but ignoring it may lead to chronic pain or cycles of flare-ups. Early management speeds recovery.

• Q: Is bursitis contagious?

  A: No, bursitis itself isn’t contagious—unless it’s septic bursitis, which involves a bacterial infection. Then, the bacteria might spread if not treated.

• Q: Are there natural remedies for bursitis?

  A: Some folks use turmeric supplements, cold laser therapy, or topical arnica, and find relief. While evidence varies, combining these with RICE and light exercise can help.

• Q: When should I see a doctor for bursitis?

  A: If pain is severe, swelling lasts over a week despite home care, or you have fever/redness (infection signs), see a professional ASAP.

• Q: Can stretching prevent bursitis?

  A: Yes! Gentle, regular stretching and strengthening of muscles around vulnerable joints helps maintain balance, reducing friction on bursae.