Bursitis of the elbow joint: treatment with medications and folk remedies. What causes bursitis? Will folk remedies help?

Bursitis elbow joint, the treatment of which requires the use of complex therapeutic procedures and drugs, and in severe forms ah and surgical intervention, cured in as soon as possible in full compliance with the methodology.

First and necessary measure in the treatment of acute bursitis of the elbow joint, a tight fixing bandage is applied. This measure reduces swelling, prevents the development of the disease and reduces painful sensations, excluding flexion of the damaged joint. A photo of elbow bursitis with an elastic bandage applied demonstrates its effectiveness.

The application of compresses is included in the range of symptomatic procedures that can improve the patient’s well-being. Treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint with an ointment with an anti-inflammatory effect also gives positive results and speeds up recovery. The following ointments are prescribed for bursitis of the elbow joint: “Collagen Ultra” and “Ketonol”. Treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint with ointment allows you to accelerate the regeneration processes of the tissues of the synovial bursa, relieve inflammation and pain.

The photo at the top shows an active inflammatory process, you can read about the symptoms of elbow bursitis at the link, treatment of this degree of the disease requires the use of the entire complex of professional medical care.

Puncture of the joint capsule allows you to get rid of excess exudate, and subsequent washing of the cavity with antiseptic and antibiotic solutions stops the development of infection and prevents the development of a purulent form of bursitis. For purulent bursitis, a course of puncture and lavage procedures is prescribed, the duration of which is determined by the severity of the disease. Purulent bursitis of the elbow joint, the operation of which is carried out in a special severe cases, requires thorough cleaning of the synovial bursa during its opening.

The long postoperative healing process allows the use of surgical intervention in particularly severe cases, only when a serious threat to the health and life of the patient arises. IN in case of emergency excision of part of the synovial bursa or its complete removal. Early treatment for acute bursitis reduces the risk of complications and speeds up the recovery process, allowing you to avoid surgery.

Elbow bursitis, the treatment of which includes physiotherapy, is eliminated much more effectively. Dry heating, UV irradiation and UHF are carried out in parallel with the medication course. After complete elimination infectious inflammation The following rehabilitation measures are used:

• physiotherapy;
• massage;
• paraffin applications;
• balneotherapy.

In some cases, radiation therapy is used to achieve an anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Bursitis of the elbow, the treatment of which was carried out not only within official medicine, has given rise to several effective folk remedies, the use of which does not contradict medical indications. IN mild form The folk remedies listed below will help cure elbow bursitis.

Night wraps made from potatoes, beets and cabbage

Thin slices of potato are laid out on a cotton cloth, which is wrapped around the sore joint. All this is wrapped in cling film and heat-insulating material. The procedure is repeated every night, alternating potatoes, beets and cabbage. To achieve the best result, the course is repeated 2-3 cycles.

Oral consumption of celery seed infusion

A tablespoon of seeds is poured into a glass of boiling water and covered with a lid, after which it is infused in a warm place for two hours. The finished infusion is filtered and taken twice a day for two weeks. This infusion has an anti-inflammatory effect and strengthens the immune system.

Lotions from propolis tincture

10 grams of propolis are mixed with 1/3 cup of vodka and infused for a week in a dark place in a closed container. Lotions are made from the infused mixture until the swelling is completely eliminated.

Baths with pine extract

1.5 kilograms of pine needles and cones are poured into a bucket of water and boiled thoroughly, then infused in a closed container for 12 hours. The strained extract is added to the bath during each bath. This procedure reduces swelling and strengthens the immune system.

Compress of Vishnevsky ointment with alcohol

Vishnevsky ointment and a small amount of vodka or cologne are applied to cotton fabric. The resulting compress is applied to the joint for a day and helps reduce swelling. The procedure is repeated at intervals of several days.

Mild bursitis of the elbow joint can be cured with folk remedies within one to two weeks, if the procedure is followed. With serious progression inflammatory process and the lack of effectiveness of folk remedies for more than two days, you should not get carried away with self-medication. Timely contact medical institution will allow you to avoid further development of the disease and prescribe the most effective course of treatment.

The human musculoskeletal system has a unique structure. Thanks to this, each individual has the opportunity to perform a huge number of various movements. Movement in space is carried out using not only bones and joints, but also elastic ligaments and muscles.

Bones are made of very strong and hard tissue. If friction occurs between them, as well as in their contact with the muscles, then the person will begin to suffer from severe pain. To prevent this from happening, nature provided the presence of synovial bursae that surround all joints. The fluid contained in the cavity of such bags acts as a lubricant for the surface of the bones.

The elbow joint is no exception, and there are also several synovial bursae located near it. When the amount of fluid in them does not go beyond normal limits, then all movements of the joint are absolutely painless and do not attract any attention. However, for certain reasons in this element musculoskeletal system inflammation may occur.

In this case, the volume of synovial fluid increases due to the formation of exudate, accumulation of protein substances and blood elements. This process, which causes severe pain and very difficult movements, called bursitis of the elbow joint.

What causes bursitis?

The most common cause of elbow bursitis is trauma. Most often this occurs in people involved in sports. As a result of damage to one or two elbows, infection of internal tissues, including the synovial bursa, can occur. At the same time, they can get into its cavity various infections, for example, staphylococcus and streptococcus - in this case nonspecific bursitis develops. If penetration occurs more than dangerous pathogens syphilis, tuberculosis, gonococcus and brucella, then we will talk about specific bursitis.

In addition, infection can occur as a result of localization of foci of furunculosis, carbunculosis or bedsores in the elbow area. It is very important to determine in time what kind of infection has entered the wound. This will determine how to treat elbow bursitis.

How does bursitis manifest?

Inflammation of the bursae in the elbow area occurs much more often than in other joints. No one is immune from this, so it is important to promptly recognize the disease and consult a doctor. Symptoms of elbow bursitis include the following negative changes:

1. An elastic, painful swelling of 7 to 10 cm in size appears in the elbow area.
2. The affected area swells greatly and becomes bluish in color.
3. Movement of the elbow joint becomes difficult and is accompanied by severe pain.
4. Body temperature rises up to 40 degrees.
5. There is deterioration general condition and loss of strength.

These signs can appear in combination. However, quite often only some of them are present. First of all, it depends on the form of the disease. For example, acute and purulent bursitis will most likely be accompanied by all of the above symptoms. But in the chronic form of the disease, the sensations will not be so painful, and the mobility of the joint will be almost the same as in a healthy state.

How is the disease treated?

Those who have experienced pain in the elbow area at least once in their life are probably interested in the question of how to treat bursitis of the elbow joint.

The nature of treatment will depend on the form of the disease:

1. In case of acute bursitis, the doctor will apply a special bandage to the joint, which will protect the painful area from re-injury and negative impact environment. After this, the patient is usually prescribed antiseptics, as well as antibiotics, the type of which is determined in accordance with which pathogen provoked the inflammatory process.
2. With a purulent form of bursitis therapeutic measures will be more serious. Using a puncture, the surgeon washes the synovial bursa and injects corticosteroids and antibiotics into it. In the future, constant medical supervision is required. If the disease is advanced, hospital treatment may be required.
3. When does bursitis occur? chronic nature, then surgery can only be done in rare cases. To avoid relapses, the patient will have to undergo surgery.

Alternative treatment for bursitis

At the first suspicion that you have developed bursitis of the elbow joint, you should immediately consult a doctor. After all, without drug treatment in this case it is not possible. At the same time, for get well soon You can use some folk remedies, the effectiveness of which has been proven by a huge number of people who have suffered from a similar disease.

We offer several recipes that can be made at home:

• Pour a third of a glass of sugar into a dry frying pan and heat it. Pour the sugar into a thick fabric bag and attach it to the elbow joint with film. Wrap a natural wool scarf over it and secure it with a fabric bandage. This compress must be left overnight.
• Take one tablespoon of celery seeds and pour a glass of boiling water over it. Wrap the container in something warm and let the mixture sit for several hours. The strained infusion should be consumed in a glass twice a day for two weeks.
• Pour 10 g of propolis into 50-70 ml of vodka. Place the tightly closed container in a dark place for five days. Using this tincture, we apply lotions to the joint until the swelling decreases.

It goes without saying that any way traditional treatment should first be discussed with your doctor. Only after such agreement can they begin to be applied.

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Elbow bursitis

Elbow bursitis is an inflammation of the synovial bursa of the elbow joint.

Normally, the periarticular ulnar bursa (bursa) is located on the extensor surface of the elbow under the skin.

It facilitates the movement of muscles and skin during flexion and extension at the joint.

Causes of the disease
Symptoms
How does a doctor make this diagnosis (disease diagnosis)
Treatment: medication, physiotherapy, surgery, folk medicine

Bursitis of the elbow joint has many synonyms: “student’s elbow”, “athlete’s disease”, “baker’s elbow”, etc. This variety of names is due to the fact that this disease more often occurs in people whose profession involves stress on the elbow joint. For example, students write a lot using their elbows, and athletes often suffer injuries to this joint.

Causes of the disease

Elbow bursitis occurs as a result of injury (post-traumatic bursitis) or prolonged stress on the elbow joint. Falls, impacts, and prolonged flexion of the joint lead to the periarticular sac becoming inflamed and filled with fluid.

As the disease progresses, the fluid inside the bursa becomes infected, and purulent bursitis occurs. People suffering from gout and arthritis are susceptible to the disease. of various etiologies(rheumatoid, lupus arthritis, arthritis with scleroderma, psoriasis, etc.).

What is this disease like?

The disease is divided according to the nature of the exudate into three types, which can be stages of one process:

• serous ( effusion fluid not infected);
• hemorrhagic (the bursa contains blood, which happens with injuries);
• purulent (when the synovial fluid of the bursa is infected).

Purulent bursitis can be nonspecific if it is caused by staphylococci, streptococci and others nonspecific microflora. Infection of the ulnar bursa can occur if there are purulent foci on the skin (abscesses, boils, infected wound). Microorganisms enter the cavity of the bag through the lymphatic vessels.

If the disease has a tuberculous, syphilitic or gonococcal etiology, they speak of specific joint bursitis.

According to the flow, the following forms of the disease are distinguished:

• spicy,
• I'll sharpen it up
• chronic,
• recurrent.

Symptoms

Elbow bursitis always begins with swelling, which occurs some time after injury or overload of the elbow joint. On initial stage swelling does not cause pain or difficulty in moving the joint.

Sometimes a person does not notice this stage, as a result of which the inflammatory process progresses. Subsequently, the periarticular bursa increases in size due to stagnation of synovial fluid. Pain appears in the joint, movements become sharply painful. Redness of the skin is observed over the joint, and the local temperature rises.

How dangerous is this disease? If the synovial fluid becomes infected, purulent inflammation develops. The skin becomes tense and the joint can increase significantly in size. In this case, these symptoms are accompanied by signs of intoxication:

• chills,
• fever up to 39-40 degrees,
• headache,
• malaise.

With purulent inflammation of the bursa, subcutaneous and intermuscular phlegmons and fistulas are formed. The process moves into the joint cavity, and purulent arthritis develops. Chronic bursitis is characterized by a paucity of symptoms and frequent exacerbations.

Important: if symptoms characteristic of this disease appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Acute inflammation of the ulnar bursa, if left untreated, can become subacute and chronic. The chronic form of the disease does not respond well to conservative treatment and significantly reduces performance. May be required surgical intervention. Therefore, it is better to start treatment at early stage until the exudate is infected and the inflammation becomes chronic.

Diagnostics

Typically, diagnosing this disease is not difficult. Sometimes, to clarify the diagnosis, a puncture of the joint capsule is performed.

At the same time, the nature of the exudate is determined and its bacteriological examination is carried out.

X-ray examination can detect damage to the olecranon or the presence of osteophytes on it. Many people ask about which doctor treats bursitis. The diagnosis and treatment of this disease is carried out by a surgeon.

Elbow bursitis must be differentiated from diseases such as elbow arthritis, gout, pseudogout. The main difference from these diseases is the preservation of mobility in the joint.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to eliminate pain and relieve inflammation. Treatment tactics depend on its form. IN initial stage it is necessary to provide rest to the joint. To do this, apply a tight fixing bandage. To reduce inflammation, warm compresses are applied to the area of ​​the bag.

1. Drug therapy

How to cure bursitis? For acute and chronic bursitis, anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, voltaren, diclofenac) and antibacterial agents(antibiotics). The choice of the latter depends on the sensitivity of microorganisms.

In mild cases of illness good effect has been used in the treatment of various anti-inflammatory ointments and gels - with parallel use of medications in the form of tablets

For severe inflammation that is difficult to treat, glucocorticosteroids are used, which are injected into the cavity of the inflamed bursa.

2. Physiotherapeutic treatment methods

For elbow bursitis, both acute and chronic, physical therapy can help relieve pain and swelling. Usually cold, heat, UHF therapy, and ultrasound are used. Immediately after an elbow injury, it is recommended to apply ice. When bursitis has already developed, thermal procedures are used.

3. Surgical treatment

Surgery may be required if purulent inflammation elbow bursa, as well as chronic bursitis. Types of operations:

• puncture of the bag,
• drainage,
• bursectomy.

Puncture

Performed for acute purulent bursitis.

The procedure involves removing the purulent contents and washing the cavity of the bag.

During puncture, you can also administer antibacterial agents and corticosteroids, which have a pronounced anti-inflammatory effect.

Drainage of the ulnar bursa

In case of severe purulent bursitis, the cavity of the ulnar bursa is opened and drained using a tube. Drainage is left until signs of inflammation subside.

Bursectomy

Surgical excision of the ulnar bursa is performed for chronic elbow bursitis. With frequent exacerbations, the walls of the bursa thicken, it increases in size and forms folds. These changes lead to difficulties in daily and labor activity. Conservative therapy may only lead to temporary improvement. Therefore, for chronic elbow bursitis, surgical intervention is advisable.

Under local or general anesthesia an incision is made in the area of ​​the ulnar bursa and it is excised. Then a splint is applied for several days, which ensures rest of the joint and more. fast healing surgical wound. During the rehabilitation process, it is formed new bag from connective tissue.

4. Non-drug therapy

This type of therapy includes various traditional methods of treating elbow bursitis. Traditional medicine recommends treating the disease “elbow bursitis” with compresses, lotions from decoctions and infusions of plants.

Plant materials that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects are used: pine needles, pine cones, St. John's wort.

To strengthen the immune system, you can take a decoction of celery seeds internally. Bags of heated sand or salt are applied to the area of ​​inflammation.

Attention: you should not try to cure the disease yourself, as this may contribute to the progression of inflammation and its transition to a chronic form. Traditional methods Treatments must first be discussed with a specialist, because some of them have contraindications.

Generally, acute form The disease is highly treatable. Even if the ulnar bursa is severely inflamed and enlarged to enormous sizes (for example, to chicken egg), with proper treatment, swelling and redness decrease within a few days.

With a favorable outcome, performance is restored after 2-3 weeks, although for some time you should still take care of the elbow joint and reduce the load. If the work involves leaning on the elbow, then it is recommended to place a cushion or pad under it.

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Most patients who seek help from a rheumatologist suffer from pain that is in no way related to bone and articular pathology. Most often, in the musculoskeletal system, the first to take the blow are soft tissues - cartilage, tendons, muscles and ligaments.

Stereotypical movements in the same joint, repeated long time, lead to degeneration of the tendons surrounding the joint. An inflammatory process occurs, which leads to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms.

If such a process occurs in the forearm, epicondylitis of the elbow joint occurs. What is this disease? Can it be recognized at an early stage? How to treat epicondylitis of the elbow joint? How to cure inflammation with folk remedies?

Development mechanism

To understand the reasons for the development of epicondylitis, you should imagine the structure of the elbow joint. In this anatomical region, the humerus has two protrusions directed towards the outer and inside. They are called epicondyles.

The muscles of the forearm are directed to these bone structures, forming tendons in the area of ​​the elbow. With stereotypic, repeated loads, the integrity of the tendons and microtraumas occur, which gradually lead to degeneration.

Cracks and scars appear in the connective tissue structure of the forearm tendons. The strength and elasticity of the muscle fiber is lost.

To limit damage, the body initiates a compensatory inflammatory response. In the area of ​​the epicondyles, an inflammatory infiltrate, tissue swelling, and compression of nerve receptors develop. This leads to the appearance of symptoms of epicondylitis.

Knowing the mechanism of disease development, it is possible to develop methods for treating the pathology. To prevent the occurrence of epicondylitis, you should understand the immediate causes of the disease.

Causes

According to the internal and external epicondyle of the humerus, lateral and medial epicondylitis in the area of ​​the elbow joint is distinguished. Each of them has its own reasons for its occurrence.

Lateral epicondylitis is called “tennis elbow” because it affects people who play the sport. However, external epicondylitis does not only affect athletes. Stereotypical movements that lead to illness are characteristic of the following professions:

• Massage therapists.
• Painters.
• Joiners.
• Carpenters.
• Tractor drivers.
• General workers.
• Milkmaids.
• Masons.

Lateral epicondylitis develops more often than internal (medial) epicondylitis; it mainly affects men. Sometimes tennis elbow occurs after a previous injury, but if the joint is not subjected to regular stress, the disease resolves without recurrence.

Medial epicondylitis develops much less frequently. Its second name is golfer's elbow. Vulnerable populations:

• Typists.
• Seamstresses.
• Athletes.
• Housewives.
• Canteen workers.

Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) occurs primarily in women.

Symptoms

Manifestations of the disease differ greatly from the localization of the inflammatory process. This helps differentiate the two forms of the disease from each other.

Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow joint is manifested by the following symptoms:

1. Limited soreness along the way outer surface elbow bend.
2. The pain intensifies with extension and external rotation of the hand.
3. The muscle strength of the external forearm muscles is weakened, the patient has difficulty squeezing the doctor's hand.
4. Pain occurs when trying to lift a heavy object from a table.
5. The corresponding sensations occur when the doctor presses on the outer epicondyle.
6. Symptoms are somewhat relieved at rest, after immobilization of the joint.

Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) has features clinical picture. Here are its characteristic symptoms:

1. Pain of a diffuse nature from the area of ​​the elbow bend throughout the entire inner part of the forearm.
2. Weakening of the muscles on the side of the injury, difficulty when trying to grasp and squeeze an object.
3. The pain intensifies when the forearm is bent inward, as well as when the doctor resists movement.
4. In the area of ​​the internal epicondyle, swelling and tenderness of the tissues are determined.

These symptoms allow an experienced doctor make a diagnosis at the time of examination. To exclude other pathologies, the specialist will prescribe additional instrumental diagnostic methods.

Diagnostics

Treatment for epicondylitis of the elbow should not begin until the diagnosis has been confirmed after comprehensive examination patient. Diagnosis of the disease begins at the stage of anamnesis and collection of complaints. The next step is inspection and palpation of the damaged area. The doctor should be able to distinguish medial and lateral epicondylitis from the following diseases:

• Arthrosis and arthritis of the elbow joint.
• Tunnel syndromes.
• Flexion contracture.
• Neuritis.
• Joint hypermobility syndrome.
• Fractures.

Instrumental studies help in making a diagnosis.

1. X-ray of the elbow joint. Used as the first and main diagnostic method. Allows you to exclude injuries, fractures, and many diseases directly in the joint area.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging. The method allows visualization of soft tissues. The image shows signs of degeneration and inflammation of the tendon elements.
3. Ultrasound. Used when it is impossible to conduct alternative research. The low degree of visualization is compensated by the safety and speed of the study.

If a neurological nature of the disease is suspected, the diagnosis is supplemented by a consultation with a neurologist.

Treatment

The modern concept of treatment of rheumatological diseases implies an integrated approach. It means that various methods exposure should eliminate the symptoms of the disease, influence the mechanism of development of the pathology, and prevent relapses of the disease.

To achieve such results in the treatment of epicondylitis, the following techniques are used:

1. Exposure to medications - injections, ointments, tablets.
2. Use of physiotherapy.
3. Prevention of relapses using therapeutic immobilization.
4. The use of physical therapy.
5. If necessary, use of surgical techniques.

Such complex treatment allows you to most effectively combat the manifestations of the disease.

In addition to the listed approaches, treatment with folk remedies at home remains relevant for many. This method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Drug therapy

To relieve the symptoms of epicondylitis, they most often resort to using medications. Among them, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, warming ointments, and less often hormonal agents are used more often.

Non-steroidal medications can reduce the intensity of the symptoms of the disease, as well as influence the course of the inflammatory process itself. NSAIDs have a pathological effect on the gastric mucosa; they should be used in combination with inhibitors proton pump(omeprazole, lansoprazole). TO non-steroidal drugs relate:

• Nimesulide.
• Diclofenac.
• Ibuprofen.
• Ketorolac.
• Meloxicam.
• Celecoxib.

The drugs are available in the form of injections, tablets, ointments and gels. Your doctor will help you choose a remedy.

Irritating, warming ointments (Capsicam, Finalgon, Viprosal) act exclusively on the pain mechanism without affecting the intensity of inflammation. In some cases they are even more effective than NSAIDs.

Hormonal agents (dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, Diprospan) are used in rare cases, with severe inflammatory syndrome.

Therapeutic immobilization

In the acute period of the disease, it is necessary to prevent further damage to the tendons that occurs during active movements. To do this, the joint area is subjected to immobilization - immobilization.

For this purpose, a plaster splint or special bandage devices are applied. The joint is fixed at a certain angle and suspended on a bandage thrown over the shoulder. Immobilization is necessary for about 1–2 weeks. After removing the bandage, physical therapy is required.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy methods are used to treat epicondylitis both in the acute period of the disease and during chronic course to prevent relapses.

The following techniques help eliminate inflammation:

• Ultrasound.
• Electrophoresis and phonophoresis with hormonal drugs.
• Paraffin applications.
• Ozokerite.
• UHF therapy.
• Electroneurostimulation.

When the inflammation in the elbow area subsides, supportive physical therapy is prescribed. These include:

• Electrophoresis procedures with potassium iodide, analgesics.
• Warming compresses.
• Mud therapy.

For recurrent epicondylitis good results gives a professional massage of the elbow joint.

Physiotherapy

Exercises for epicondylitis of the elbow joint are an essential component of treatment. Without exercise therapy, it is impossible to achieve stable remission of the disease. Muscle elements must be strengthened to prevent degeneration from progressing.

Recommend complexes therapeutic exercises maybe the attending physician.

It is necessary to begin classes with low-amplitude, careful movements. You should perform the exercises for 20 minutes a day, gradually increasing the load. After exercise, you should give your muscles a rest; you can use self-massage of the forearm tendons.

Swimming classes help complement gymnastics. This sport allows you to simultaneously create tone for muscle fibers and do not overload them with traction movements.

Surgical treatment

Recurrent, chronic epicondylitis, as well as prolonged pain for more than 4 months are indications for surgical treatment.

During surgery, areas of tendon degeneration are excised, which prevents inflammation in the area. The operation usually takes about 1.5 hours, under local or regional anesthesia. General anesthesia is performed less frequently.

After the intervention, rehabilitation is indicated, which includes immobilization of the limb, gradual implementation therapeutic exercises. The rehabilitation complex also includes massage, physiotherapy and the use of medications.

Surgical treatment helps to forget about the manifestations of epicondylitis for a long time. However, to maintain the effect of treatment, it is necessary to abandon stereotypical movements, and sometimes change jobs.

Treatment with folk remedies

Many patients are interested in the question: “Is it possible to cure epicondylitis at home using folk remedies?” Unfortunately, it will not be possible to completely get rid of the disease using this method.

However, it should be said that therapy with folk remedies helps eliminate some symptoms of the disease. Pain, stiffness, and swelling of tissues can be completely eliminated using proven recipes.

Treatment with folk remedies involves the use of the following recipes:

1. Ice tea. Brewed large leaf green tea filter through cheesecloth and pour into bags. In this form, tea is frozen in the freezer. After freezing, the bag is wrapped in a towel and applied to the affected joint.
2. Blue clay mixed with glass hot water and laid out on the fabric. The resulting compress is placed on the joint and wrapped with a warm cloth. Apply the prescription after subsiding acute period diseases.
3. Ointment made from lard and comfrey root. The components are mixed in equal proportions until smooth. The resulting mass is used as a compress.
4. Sorrel roots are washed and infused in vodka for 10 days. Used as a compress.
5. Sunflower oil is mixed with four tablespoons of crushed bay leaf. Infuse for a week, and then rub into the elbow joint once a day.

Treatment with folk remedies must be done with great caution. Before using the described recipes, you should consult your doctor.

It is recommended to combine therapy with folk remedies with other components of the complex treatment of epicondylitis. This method will not only eliminate the manifestations of the disease, but also influence the mechanisms of its development.

Bursitis is the process of inflammation that develops in the joint capsule. To understand the process, it should be said that around each joint there are several synovial bursae that are filled with liquid contents. They are intended for depreciation (separation of one articular surface from another) and protecting joints from traumatic damage.

The most common injury is the knee, and the second most common injury is the elbow joint. It has three bags, each containing a certain amount clear liquid(interosseous, ulnar subcutaneous and interosseous ulnar). The inflammatory process in one of these bags is called bursitis.

What it is?

Elbow bursitis– inflammatory lesion of the synovial bursa – bursa. Due to the close proximity of the neurovascular bundle and a thin layer of fatty tissue, the elbow joints are vulnerable to various traumatic factors, reacting sharply to even the slightest damage.

Causes

Bursitis of the elbow joint can occur for a number of reasons, among which are the following:

1. In the first place, as a factor leading to the development of bursitis, is arthritis of any nature - psoriatic or gouty. That is, against the background of acute inflammation, fluid begins to accumulate in the cartilage itself or in the synovial bursa, which leads to the formation of bursitis.
2. It can also occur as a result of infection. This happens especially often when the skin tissue directly next to the bursa has been damaged, and a certain microorganism or bacterium has gotten inside. As infectious cause Bursitis can also occur when the bones and soft tissues of the fingers are exposed to acute inflammation. Also, the infection can enter the synovial bursa not from the outside, but “from the inside,” that is, transmitted through the blood (hematogenous route) and lymph (lymphogenous route).
3. Bursitis can result from microtrauma, but this is somewhat less common. The elbow is injured due to constantly repeating monotonous movements, so this disease is unofficially called the “occupational” disease of all those people whose activities involve resting the elbow on a hard surface. These could be students, engravers, chess players, draftsmen, etc. In such people, the subcutaneous ulnar bursa most often becomes inflamed, and, for example, in tennis players, the interosseous ulnar bursa is inflamed. This difference is associated with the characteristics of the distribution of the load on the elbow, and therefore the location of microtraumas.
4. Sometimes bursitis occurs some time after receiving a mechanical injury to the elbow. In the case when a person hits or falls on this part of the body. It is extremely rare, however, that idiopathic inflammation of the synovial bursa occurs, that is, such etiological reasons which remain unclear.

Among the risk factors leading to inflammation in the elbow joint are some chronic diseases, for example, diabetes. The cause of suppuration can also be a general weakening of the immune system, metabolic disorders, as well as the use of steroid drugs.

Classification

Bursitis, like any other inflammatory disease, can be acute, subacute or chronic. In addition, the specific type of bursitis depends on which of the bursae is damaged. The quality of the fluid contained in the bursa in this disease is also taken into account.

In this regard, bursitis is distinguished:

• serous;
• hemorrhagic;
• purulent;
• fibrous;
• mixed.

If the disease is based on the introduction of coccal flora, then the process is considered nonspecific. And for disorders associated with tuberculosis, gonorrhea or syphilis, we're talking about about specific bursitis.

Symptoms and photos of elbow bursitis

Symptoms of acute serous-hemorrhagic or serous process:

• mild pain, swelling, redness, increased temperature in the area of ​​inflammation.
• movements in the elbow are limited.
• There may be a spherical protrusion visible to the eye, soft to the touch.
• the general condition, as a rule, does not suffer; only some patients experience low body temperature, accompanied by malaise and weakness.
• acute inflammation ends with recovery or becomes chronic.

Symptoms of a purulent type of disease:

• pain with purulent is sharp, bursting or tugging.
• how more acute inflammation, the more intense the pain syndrome.
• the elbow is hot to the touch, swollen, the skin is congested with blood (hyperemic), sharp pain is noted on palpation.
• movements are severely limited, regional lymph nodes are enlarged.
• Symptoms of general intoxication appear: the temperature rises to 38–39 degrees, you feel weak, tired, sweating, headache, irritability.

Chronic bursitis lasts much longer than acute, manifesting itself with the following symptoms:

• moderate pain when moving,
• discomfort in the elbow area,
• movements in the joint are preserved almost completely,
• the area of ​​inflammation looks like a dense formation.

The photo below shows how elbow bursitis manifests itself in an adult.

First aid

In the case of an acute non-purulent process, it is important to do the following:

• Apply a tight pressure bandage to the joint that will not stop arterial circulation, to reduce tissue swelling;
• Form a fixing scarf (orthosis) that will support the arm in a physiological position.

With purulent bursitis, this should not be done: pus under pressure can enter the surrounding tissues and blood vessels.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is usually easy to make based on an examination by an orthopedic traumatologist. But to clarify the prevalence of the process and exclude complications, there are a number of instrumental diagnostic methods:

• X-ray of the joint: allows you to determine the presence of an inflammatory process in the joint.
• Ultrasound of the joint: helps to clarify the size and location of the inflamed bursa, the amount of exudate in it
• MRI of the joint: allows you to diagnose bursitis of the deep joint capsules.

This disease must be diagnosed as early as possible in order to begin adequate treatment in a timely manner.

Consequences

Complications of elbow bursitis are much more difficult to treat than the disease itself. They arise due to failure to provide timely medical care and the disease progressing to severe forms. A peculiar melting of the walls in the synovial cavity occurs and the pathogenic mass spreads to adjacent areas.

As a result, the following are formed:

Lymphangitis	Inflammation of the lymphoid ducts, which become more pronounced in the form of a mesh or red lines extending from the site of purulent formation.
Lymphadenitis
	Formed due to infection lymph nodes, to which lymph flows from the source of inflammation and an abscess is formed.
Suppurative arthritis	The disease typically spreads to the joint that is located next to the victim and limits its movements.

Treatment of elbow bursitis

In the case of acute or chronic bursitis, anti-inflammatory drugs (such as voltaren, ibuprofen, diclofenac) are used at home, as well as antibacterial drugs. The latter are selected taking into account the sensitivity of pathogenic microorganisms.

At mild flow diseases, a variety of gels and ointments with an anti-inflammatory effect have a good effect, but they only help in conjunction with by mouth the medications described above. To treat a clearly defined inflammatory process that is difficult to treat, glucocorticoid preparations are used. They are introduced into the cavity of the inflamed joint capsule.

Please note that only a qualified doctor has the right to prescribe all medications; you should not try to do this yourself or even with the help of a pharmacist, as this can be dangerous to your health!

Physiological therapy

After passing the acute period of bursitis to the complex medical procedures Physiotherapy is added. Painful symptoms subside during the first procedures. Physiological procedures are well tolerated by patients, such as:

1. Massage;
2. Laser therapy;
3. Paraffin heating;
4. Mud treatment;
5. Magnetotherapy;
6. Bishofite wraps;
7. Physiotherapy.

It is recommended to treat elbow bursitis at home by following a certain diet. It is recommended to limit use table salt in food and reduce consumption meat broths However, boiled meat is healthy. It is advisable to consume fruits and vegetables according to the dietary menu.

Folk remedies

Some patients, in addition to ointments and gels with anti-inflammatory effects (drugs Voltaren, Indomethacin, Traumeel S, Dimexide, Diclofenac) use folk recipes with bursitis of the elbow joint. Complex treatment at home lasts several weeks and requires regular use of homemade formulations.

• Directions for use: 20 grams of propolis per 1 glass of quality vodka. The resulting liquid must be mixed and allowed to stand for 1 week. Afterwards, the mixture is applied to clean gauze or bandage and applied to the inflamed area for 5-10 minutes. To achieve the effect, you need to apply the compress every day for several weeks.
• Compress from cabbage leaf. This method is effective not only for bursitis, but also for arthritis. Wash the leaf, remove the stringy part, cut or beat until the juice appears, apply to the sore spot, bandage, insulate soft cloth. Cabbage perfectly “draws out” inflammation and reduces pain. As soon as the sheet dries and becomes hot (after about half an hour), replace the compress with a fresh one. Keep the cabbage on your elbow longer: the remedy is harmless.
• Burdock decoction helps relieve joint inflammation, especially with acute bursitis. Directions for use: 2 tbsp required. spoons of crushed burdock root per 1 liter. Boil water for about 5 minutes. Then let the broth brew for 10-15 minutes and apply a compress to the epicenter of inflammation. For complete warming up, it is recommended to insulate the compress with a woolen scarf on top and allow the joint to warm up for 1.5 hours. Course of treatment: once a day for a month.
• Ointment made from honey and aloe. Excellent product to relieve swelling, heal microcracks and wounds on the elbow. Take 3 des. l. tender pulp, add 1 tbsp. l. liquid honey, 2 drops of ether tea tree. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, put half the mixture on gauze or a bandage, and secure it to the inflamed area. There is no need to wrap up the problem area. Aloe ointment with honey is suitable for the treatment of purulent bursitis of the elbow joint while heating is prohibited. Keep the mixture for 50 minutes, change the compress, wait the same amount. Course – 20 procedures (or less, depending on the result).

Timely diagnosis and correct treatment bursitis will keep your joints healthy. A complex approach to the treatment of the inflammatory process with the use of medications, folk remedies, and physiotherapy will relieve the patient of painful symptoms. Do not put off the treatment of bursitis “on the back burner”: the disease often develops into chronic stage, attacks cause significant discomfort.

Surgery

When complications of the disease develop and pus appears in the joint capsule, an operation becomes urgent, which is quite simple and consists of pumping out the fluid and injecting antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs into the joint.

Bursitis is usually treated with medications, but if complications occur, it requires surgery.

Surgeries are also performed to remove the damaged bursa. They are completely uncomplicated and highly effective. Patients soon return to their normal lives.

Prevention of bursitis

Preventive measures will help avoid the risk of developing pathology:

• strict adherence to work and rest schedules;
• dosing of physical activity;
• immediate competent treatment infectious diseases;
• timely initiation of treatment in order to prevent the transition of the inflammatory process to the purulent phase;
• prevention of traumatic effects on the area where synovial capsules are located;
• use of protective equipment if there is a potential risk of injury;
• abrasions, scratches, cuts, abrasions must be treated with hydrogen peroxide and an antiseptic.

Elbow bursitis - dangerous disease. The disease should not be left to chance, as complications can be disastrous. The disease cannot be allowed to reach severe forms.

Around all joints, including the elbow, there are bursae, which are a sac of fluid. They serve as shock absorbers, protecting the bones from contact and friction during mechanical movements. When there is inflammation in any of the synovial bursae, the composition and amount of fluid changes, and bursitis of the elbow joint occurs - treating this disease at home is not difficult if the degree light damage. Otherwise, specialized therapy and possibly surgery are required.

How to treat mild elbow bursitis at home?

If the inflammation of the synovial bursa is caused by a minor injury or a banal one, it is not complicated by the attachment bacterial infection, quite acceptable standard treatment elbow bursitis at home:

1. Provide rest to the injured limb. For fixation, it is recommended to apply a pressure or scarf bandage.
2. Relieve inflammation. In the first 1-2 days after the development of the pathology, cold compresses or ice should be applied to the elbow. This will not only stop the inflammatory process, but also limit its spread and reduce swelling of the joint.
3. Accelerate the outflow of excess fluid. To reduce the pressure in the synovial bursa, you need to use absorbable drugs. Lotions with aqueous solution Dimexide (proportions 10:1).

In the presence of pain syndrome Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are allowed.

How to cure serous or purulent elbow bursitis at home?

The features of the considered forms of pathology are hyperthermia and disruption of the general condition of the body due to intoxication. Lack of adequate and timely therapy can lead to irreversible complications and the transition of serous or purulent damage into chronic inflammation.

For these reasons, treatment of severe elbow bursitis at home is not allowed. When contacting a doctor, appropriate therapeutic measures are prescribed:

• limb immobilization;
• use of systemic and local anti-inflammatory drugs;
• taking antibiotics wide range activity;
• aspiration of fluid;
• Introduction to joint capsule glucocorticosteroid hormones;
• use of general strengthening agents;
• physiotherapeutic influences.

In very severe cases and if any conservative measures are ineffective, surgical intervention – bursectomy – is recommended.

Is it possible to treat elbow bursitis with folk remedies?

It is important to note that no methods of alternative medicine can be considered sufficient for the full treatment of inflammation of the synovial bursa. Any homeopathic, alternative medications and folk remedies for elbow bursitis are used exclusively as additional auxiliary medications to alleviate the symptoms of the pathology and reduce the severity of pain.

Lotion on a sore joint

Ingredients:

• vodka – 60 ml;
• natural – 10 g.

Preparation and use

Grind bee glue and mix with vodka. Infuse the solution for 5 days in a container with a tightly sealed stopper in a dark place. Apply lotion product. Leave on skin for up to 2-3 hours.

Compress for pain with bursitis

Free flexion of the limb at the elbow is possible due to the presence of a special periarticular bursa - the bursa.

A small amount of special liquid contained in its cavity acts as a lubricant, reducing friction and preventing possible microtrauma.

If suddenly bursa becomes inflamed, a disease called bursitis of the elbow joint develops, the symptoms and treatment of which we will now consider.

What it is?

Why does elbow bursitis occur and what is it? Around the elbow there are interosseous ulnar, radiobrachial and ulnar subcutaneous synovial bursae, which contain a little fluid, which ensures painless functioning of the joint.

If inflammation develops in the synovial bursa for one reason or another, then the amount of fluid increases, its composition and character changes, pain and other symptoms of bursitis appear.

In most cases, elbow bursitis is a consequence of injury, which results in damage to the synovial bursae and infection with pathogenic agents. For example, streptococcus, staphylococcus or pathogens of syphilis, tuberculosis, gonococcus.

Causes

This pathology can occur for several reasons, the main ones being:

1. The infection enters the bursa through the flow of lymph and blood from purulent foci in the body (furuncle,) or from the flu.
2. Arthritis of any etiology– , psoriatic or gouty. In this case, against the background of an acute inflammatory process, fluid begins to accumulate in the cartilage, which leads to the development of bursitis.
3. Inflammation of the bursa occurs after excessive stress on the elbow joint. This is typical for athletes who play tennis and golf.
4. In some patients, the disease develops over time after received mechanical damage elbow(for example, if there is a strong blow or fall on this part of the body).

Suppuration can also occur due to weakened immunity, impaired metabolism in the body, as well as due to the use of steroid drugs.

Symptoms of elbow bursitis

A swelling appears in the area of ​​one of the synovial bursae, which looks like a compaction, quite soft when palpated, measuring about 70-100 mm.

Elbow bursitis has other symptoms. These include:

1. Swelling that appears suddenly and causes pain and also interferes with joint movements. Sometimes such swelling may not be noticed immediately, thereby delaying the start of treatment.
2. The synovial bursa will gradually increase in size and inflammation will increase, as well as pain.
3. The person's body temperature may rise and the skin may become red.

Purulent bursitis of the elbow joint, in addition to the symptoms described above, has a microbial flora and provokes the development of purulent arthritis. In this case, the following symptoms appear:

• body temperature rises;
• weakness, fatigue;
• nausea and/or vomiting;
• the joint area is red, very painful, tense;
• there may even be confusion and delirium if there is a sufficient amount of effusion,
• caused by an aggressive pathogen.

All these manifestations are characteristic not only of bursitis and can occur with other rheumatological and traumatological diseases - arthritis, epicondylitis, fractures and sprains, etc. Therefore, for correct diagnosis bursitis great importance provide additional methods research, as well as a correctly collected anamnesis.

We offer detailed photos for viewing of what this disease looks like.

Diagnostic methods

To clarify the prevalence of the process and exclude complications, there are a number of instrumental diagnostic methods:

1. X-ray of the joint: allows you to determine the presence of an inflammatory process in the joint.
2. Ultrasound of the joint: helps to clarify the size and location of the inflamed bursa, the amount of exudate in it
3. MRI of the joint: allows you to diagnose bursitis of the deep joint capsules.

In most cases, the diagnosis is easy to make based on examination data from an orthopedic traumatologist.

Consequences

Complications of elbow bursitis are much more difficult to treat than the disease itself.

1. Phlegmon. Purulent melting of the cellular spaces located under skin and between muscles.
2. Purulent arthritis. Characteristically, the disease spreads to the joint that is located next to the victim and limits its movements.
3. Lymphadenitis. It is formed as a result of infection of the lymph nodes, to which lymph flows from the source of inflammation and an abscess is formed.

Treatment of elbow bursitis

Treatment depends on the form of the disease and it all starts with diagnosis. If bursitis of the elbow joint is not complicated and is the result of a mild bruise, then it can go away on its own, by limiting the mobility of the sore spot and applying a cold compress, followed by the use of dimexide as a resolving agent.

However, there is general principles providing assistance with this pathology:

1. Joint immobilization. The elbow joint is fixed using a bandage or orthosis, which provides rest to the organ and reduces discomfort, occurring during movement, helps resolve swelling.
2. As emergency care can be used for acute bursitis cold compress . For chronic bursitis, compresses with honey, aloe, burdock, St. John's wort or yarrow are used.
3. Anti-inflammatory drugs- so called . Basic group for the treatment of bursitis and all rheumatological diseases.

Purulent bursitis of the elbow joint requires a more serious approach to treatment. The patient is sent to a surgeon, who punctures the bursa, washes it and injects antibiotics and corticosteroids directly into the site of inflammation. Further, treatment is continued in compliance with all the principles of purulent surgery; in case of severe forms, it can be carried out in a hospital setting.

Operation

Surgical intervention is performed only in extreme cases when all tried methods are ineffective. Most often, surgery is needed for recurrent bursitis, or purulent-hemorrhagic inflammation, as well as persistent serous inflammation.

How to treat bursitis at home?

In a mild form, folk remedies that you can do yourself at home will help cure bursitis of the elbow joint.

1. Mode of application: 20 grams of propolis per 1 glass of quality vodka. The resulting liquid must be mixed and allowed to stand for 1 week. Afterwards, the mixture is applied to clean gauze or bandage and applied to the inflamed area for 5-10 minutes. To achieve the effect, you must apply the compress every day for several weeks.
2. Aloe with honey. This treatment is suitable for acute bursitis. Take 1 tbsp. aloe juice and 2 tbsp. honey, mix the ingredients. Fold the bandage in several layers and apply the resulting mixture to it, then apply it to the sore spot, wrap it in cellophane and secure it with a bandage on the elbow. You need to wear the compress for at least two hours.
3. Celery seed infusion excellently relieves inflammation and also strengthens immune system. To cook this medicine you need to pour a glass of boiling water over one spoon of celery seeds. The container with the product should be tightly closed and wrapped. The drug should be infused for several hours. Then the product must be filtered and taken orally in a glass twice a day. The course is up to two weeks.

If there is a noticeable progression of the inflammatory process and the lack of effectiveness of folk remedies for more than two days, you should not get carried away with self-medication