The diagnosis of bursitis or inflammation of the synovial sac for many sounds like a sentence. And only people who understand medical terms understand that the disease is not terrible, but rather unpleasant, causing great discomfort to the damaged area and the general inability to move normally. To understand what you have to deal with and how to avoid inflammations of this kind, we turn to the right sources.
What it is
The synovial sac, or bursa, is a small cavity resembling a flat sac, which is formed by the synovial membrane and is an important component of the entire joint. There are bursa between the soft tissues of the body (for example, muscles or tendons, as well as the fascia) and bones, where the tendon is thrown through a nearby muscle or bone, thereby eliminating or softening the friction process.
The inner cavity of the synovial bag is filled with synovia, a special fluid that a special membrane produces inside this cavity. Synovial fluid protects against mechanical friction, shock and undue stress arising from movement during various work of the human body.
Types of Bursa
Synovial bags can be divided into several types, based on location:
- Axillary bursa are located at the points of attachment to the joint bag, that is, between the bone tissue and muscle, providing protection for the joint.
- Subcutaneous are located in places where the bone is under strong external pressure, such as the elbow or the patella, the protruding bone on the side of the ankle.
- Dry synovial bags give the joints mobility, as they often communicate with their cavities.
- Subfascial. Some doctors do not separate them from the subcutaneous, considering them a variety. In this case, this type of synovial bags is located not in the subcutaneous tissue, but under the fascia, thus preventing excessive muscle friction.
Synovial bag
To make it easier to understand and navigate what a bursa is and where it is located, consider the anatomical figures below.
Dry and subcutaneous synovial bags are positioned so that they protect the joint from all sides as much as possible, preventing excessive bone friction against a dense surface or a stretched muscle, tendon. They are formed in infancy, and as they grow older and increase the load, new ones form throughout the body.
Synovial fluid in the joints
This is a product of the development of the synovial bag, which fills the internal cavity of the joint, providing its lubrication, nutrition and interaction with all components. The synovial fluid looks like a thick mucous mass that has an almost transparent color and, in some parameters, is close to the blood plasma in composition. If the color of the synovia is cloudy or with blood, then inflammatory processes in the joint or periarticular muscle tissues are evident.
The synovial membrane of the bag is quite sensitive to various changes in the composition of the blood, infections and injuries. Its volume directly depends on the amount of hyaluronan in its composition, which is known as hyaluronic acid. This substance provides the viscosity of synovia, and also does not allow it to go beyond the joint, ensuring its safety. Also, hyaluronic acid is currently considered the most important substance that holds water inside the cells. This means that joint problems are often associated with a lack of this substance, which, in turn, indicates the importance of observing the water regime.
Which joints are most likely to be affected by bursa?
Most synovial bags in the joints that experience the most intense loads: knees, ankles, shoulders and hip joints, because in the structure of each of them there are from three to ten or more synovial bags that ensure proper operation. The most common causes of their defeat are:
- injuries
- inadequate physical and sports activities;
- infectious diseases;
- pathology of the spine;
- osteophytes;
- malnutrition, bad habits and lack of water in the body;
- impaired metabolism;
- autoimmune diseases;
- stresses that cause all the previous factors.
Pathology of the synovial bag
The most common disease is inflammation of the synovial sac (bursitis), which most often manifests itself against the background of an injury or inflammatory process in the body caused by various factors. With bursitis, the area of the damaged area swells, local temperature rises and joint mobility is limited. Sometimes the general condition of a person worsens due to infection in the damaged area.
The synovial bag of the ankle joint is also prone to inflammation, especially in people who create total strain on the legs: dancers, runners, acrobats, athletes, whose activity is associated with jumping or sharp movements of the legs. The former injuries are especially affected by bursa: dislocations, torn ligaments and fractures, as well as concurrent diseases and even incorrectly chosen shoes. In such cases, you should especially carefully monitor the condition of the joints and the whole organism as a whole.
If bursitis is an inflammation of the joint bag, then synovitis is inflammation of the synovial membrane, that is, the very inner layer of the bag that secretes the fluid necessary for the joint. As a result, the affected membrane begins to actively produce an increased dose of synovia, which does not leave the joint bag. And if the disease develops against a background of infection, then the synovitis becomes purulent, which is very dangerous both for the joint itself and for nearby soft tissues.
All types of inflammation are accompanied by severe pain, announcing that fluid has accumulated in the joint bag, overflowing with toxins, which irritate the nerve receptors, causing their reaction - pain.
How to identify bursa inflammation
The initial stage of inflammation of the synovial bag of the knee joint, for example, often proceeds almost asymptomatically, since a wise body tries to solve the problem on its own. But if carelessly ignoring the weak signals of the body, then a sluggish current disease can develop into a more serious problem and confine a person to bed.
When the inflammation enters the acute stage, the affected area swells, and the bursa itself is easily felt with the fingers: it has an oval or round elastic structure, sometimes reaching 10 cm. The skin will necessarily redden and the temperature rises either in the damaged place or in the whole body and swollen tissues do not allow the joint to fully function: it does not work to bend or completely straighten the affected joint, moreover, severe pain occurs. The presence of these factors already indicates the need for an immediate visit to a traumatologist, surgeon or orthopedist, who will identify the cause of the disease and prescribe a course of treatment that eliminates the problem. The most accurate result, of course, will be revealed by the doctor by prescribing a puncture of the synovial bag, but before that, perhaps, he will suggest making an ultrasound or arthoscopy.
Conclusion
In summing up, it is necessary to once again emphasize the importance of the drinking regime and an active, but adequate lifestyle, proper, and therefore, healthy nutrition and strong immunity for the health of not only the whole organism, but also its individual segments, such as the synovial bag of the knee, the fluid it produces .