Non-Surgical Treatment Protocol for Shoulder Bursitis

Shoulder bursitis is a condition marked by inflammation of the bursa, small sacs that contain fluid, located between your shoulder and arm. The inflammation of the bursa causes shoulder pain and affects your range of motion, which can affect your day-to-day activities.

Function

• The function of non-surgical treatment for bursitis includes taking steps to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation and giving the bursa time to heal.

Types of Medications

• Doctors typically recommend over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen to reduce inflammation and make you more comfortable. More severe injuries may require the injection of a corticosteroid drug like prednisone into your shoulder to quickly reduce the inflammation.

Features

• When shoulder bursitis first develops, it may be necessary for you to wear a device to immobilize your shoulder, such as a shoulder support or sling, and your doctor may recommend using ice to reduce swelling. Once the pain subsides, physical therapy is sometimes necessary to strengthen your shoulder.

Risks

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications pose a risk for ulceration or bleeding in your digestive tract and the onset of heart disease, according to the FDA and the American College of Gastroenterology. Corticosteroid injections have the potential to cause increases in blood sugar levels and put you at a greater risk for developing bacterial and viral infections, reports the American Family Physician.

Considerations

• In most cases, non-surgical treatment for shoulder bursitis is effective at treating the inflammation, but it is possible for bursitis to develop as a chronic condition, meaning that it develops repeatedly over time, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In such cases, treatment will need to be repeated with each occurrence.