Bursitis Shoulder Information

Last reviewed on 23 January 2024 by Danniel Jacques (B.Med.Sci UNSW)

What is Shoulder Bursitis?

Shoulder Bursitis before & after - OSMO Patch - AUBursitis shoulder pain will sometimes be called a rotator cuff injury however this is a general term that also includes shoulder tendonitis pain.

More specifically bursitis in the shoulder is the inflammation of a small fluid filled sac known as a bursa. There are many bursa sacs throughout the body and their role is to act as small lubricated cushions between bones, muscles and other body tissues. This allows low friction and resistance during movement of the joints. There are two main bursa sacs in the shoulder that are responsible for bursitis shoulder pain and they are;

» Subacromial Bursitis
» Subdeltoid Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis pain should not be left untreated as it may become chronic which could then lead to scar tissue formation and further irritation and shoulder pain.

What Causes Shoulder Bursitis?

Within the complex shoulder joint there is a network of muscles, bones, tendons and other tissues that move together to allow for all the integrate movements of the shoulder. Normally these all move fairly effortlessly thanks to the small bursa sacs within the shoulder joint space that protects them. However the following can cause injury, inflammation and impingement within the shoulder and they would be considered the main causes of shoulder bursitis:

  • A sudden impact
  • Repetitive strain
  • Wear and tear
  • Underlying inflammatory condition

What are the Symptoms of Shoulder Bursitis?

Signs and symptoms of shoulder bursitis can include:

  • Shoulder pain while lying in bed,
  • Pain in the shoulder when raising the arm,
  • Localized swelling and tenderness,
  • Severe shoulder pain when lifting heavy objects, and
  • Even shoulder pain at rest.

Shoulder bursitis can be felt as either right shoulder pain or left shoulder pain. As more people are right handed than left it is not unusual to expect right shoulder pain to be more prevalent than left shoulder pain.

How is Shoulder Bursitis Diagnosed?

Bursitis in the shoulder is not normally associated with visual swelling so it can be hard to properly diagnose on visual examination.  A proper diagnosis from a qualified health care professional is important to rule out other causes of shoulder pain and hence an ultra sound and  X-ray will be required. In some cases an MRI may also be required to rule out any co-exist conditions that may have contributed to the condition.

Next Page: Learn the answers to the most common questions asked about treating shoulder bursitis, including:

Testimonials

Real accounts by real people. Hear what they have to say!

Tendonitis or bursitis

I have been prescribed XXXXXXXX 750mg for my shoulder. Tendonitis or bursitis, my Doctor said. The anti inflammatory meds were working well until I moved some furniture for my wife and then the pain came right back with a vengeance I put a patch on my shoulder last night and was amazed when I removed […]

Tom
Virginia, United States
Shoulder bursitis

Hi, Have been using the patches now for 6 days, just wanted to know how long to use them for. I imagined until the area no longer has any fluid on the patch, have had bursitis in shoulder for 5 weeks now, have had only a small relief so far, Cheers

Ingrid
United States
Shoulder bursitis and tendentious

Eight years ago I had a work place accident and injured my left shoulder (bursitis and tendentious). After extensive physio & sports rehab the doctors advised me to get cortisone injections.  Not only was this a painful procedure, it didn’t work! I proceeded to have physio treatment off and on for the next 8 years, […]

Belinda W
SA, Australia
Bursitis in shoulder & elbow

Hi, I have had bursitis in my right shoulder for more than 3 years, after about 6 months of physio, I still have a lot of pain. About 14 months ago I developed bursitis in the left shoulder and elbow, which causes me very disturbed sleeps, I had treatment with an Osteopath, the pain subsided only temporarily

I have used 9 of your patches, 2 on my elbow and the rest on my shoulder, the improvement in my shoulder has been amazing, I still have a lot of pain but the movement has improving so much that I don’t hesitate in getting dressed as previously just pulling a T-shirt over my head was painful.

Thank you so much and I hope more people find your website. What a blessing.

Tessa L
VIC, Australia
Shoulder Bursitis

I had a sudden case of Shoulder Bursitis, in fact, the Orthopaedic Surgeon said it was the most severe and immediate he had seen in years. He gave cortisone shot and Rx Narcotics that barely cut the pain. No sleep as pain worse at night. In my desperation for relief I searched the internet to […]

T. Mule
Colorado, United States
Shoulder bursa

Hello Toky, Thanks Toky. Last lot sure made a difference.  I was able to not be awakened by an aching bursa during the night.  One night before; was so bad that I had to sit in a lounge chair and ice my shoulder regularly through the night Told the doctor about the patches and twice […]

Al M
Southland, New Zealand
Shoulder Bursitis

I have had terrible bursitis pain in my right shoulder since Christmas eve, 2017. Have been on various analgesics (on and off) since with varying degrees of success. I stumbled upon your product a few days ago and thought “What the heck, I’ll give it a go as nothing else has worked”. I’ve used the […]

Allan W
NSW, Australia
Shoulder Bursitis

I have worn the patch for 2 months and it has drained the fluid out of shoulder and reduced the pain significantly.

Steve R
TX, United States
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