In the article, we will consider the treatment of ulnar bursitis at home. This is a disease that occurs with the development of the inflammatory process in the synovial bag. At the initial stages of the development of the disease, the patient does not feel any discomfort or any other symptoms. Over time, bursitis develops and, in the absence of adequate therapy, can provoke a complete disability in a patient.
Description of the disease
Elbow bursitis (ICD-10 - M70.2 and M70.3.) Is often found in clinical practice. The disease has a special mechanism of progression. The joint bag is a specific cavity filled with synovial fluid, which acts as a lubricant for the joints. Also, synovial fluid plays a protective role for bones, if there is any negative effect.
In the inflammatory process, the volume of synovial fluid in the joint bag increases significantly. Over time, its characteristics and properties change. The patient begins to feel soreness in the elbow, and the adjacent tissues gradually swell.
In running form
If bursitis has a neglected form, then the articular bag significantly increases in size. In the case when bursitis develops under the influence of an infectious agent, the onset of the suppuration process is not ruled out. A similar process can have the most unpredictable consequences. If the pathological condition has a protracted nature, adhesions and some other concomitant ailments begin to appear.
A feature of the elbow joint is that it is not protected by muscle or adipose tissue. In this regard, the impact of any nature can provoke the development of bursitis. In the elbow part there are three articular bags. Statistics report that the disease begins to develop in the bag, which is located at the elbow end.
Treatment of ulnar bursitis at home should be carried out only under the supervision of a doctor.
Causes of bursitis in the elbow joint
In the treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint, it is first necessary to take into account the main factor, as a result of the influence of which a pathology has formed. Most often, bursitis is provoked by the following factors:
- The presence of viral and bacterial agents in the patient’s body. In cases where the weak spot of the body is the elbow joint, pathogenic microflora for a short period of time causes the development of a purulent lesion in it.
- The processes of inflammation in the joint. Gout, arthritis and some other articular pathologies can lead to inhibition of mobility of the upper limb as a whole. The occurrence of ruptures of the bag and filling it with lymph is not ruled out.
- Traumatic damage to any part of the elbow. In this case, the response to injury may be delayed. In this regard, the root cause may not be established correctly.
- Also, the cause of bursitis of the elbow joint is the constant load on the upper limbs, the systematic arrangement of the hands in the same position. The risk group consists of athletes and office employees.
Also, bursitis is able to develop as a result of a variety of autoimmune diseases, specific diseases and intoxication. Specialists often note that pathology develops under the influence of several factors at once. It is such a feature of bursitis that complicates not only diagnosis, but also its therapy.
Symptoms and treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint are discussed below.
Varieties of bursitis
The disease can be in a chronic and acute form. The acute form of bursitis develops unexpectedly if the elbow joint is exposed to infection or mechanical damage. Symptoms of the disease are pronounced and require immediate medical attention. Chronic bursitis is characterized by a relapsing course. The mobility of the joint is not impaired, but studies can reveal the presence of a dense formation in the elbow.
Therapy of ulnar bursitis should be prescribed very quickly. Otherwise, infection of the serous fluid may occur, and such a condition can threaten the patient's life.
Fluid classification
In addition, bursitis is usually classified according to the type of fluid that accumulates in the joint bag.
- Purulent form of bursitis. In this case, infection of the synovial fluid is accompanied by the addition of pathogenic microflora.
- Hemorrhagic form of bursitis. The contents of the bag reveals a blood component secreted from other tissues and joints.
- Serous form.
The most dangerous and complex form of bursitis is purulent. With this form of the disease, therapy involves immediate surgical intervention.
Symptoms and treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint are interconnected.
Symptoms of bursitis
With ulnar bursitis, the most diverse symptoms can develop, it depends on the form of the disease. Serous and hemorrhagic bursitis is accompanied by minor soreness. The skin in the affected area has a fever, there is a slight swelling. Elbow movements are limited. In some cases, a protrusion appears, which has a spherical shape. In this case, the general condition of the patient remains normal.
If ulnar bursitis has a chronic course, the patient feels moderate soreness and a feeling of discomfort. The mobility of the hand is maintained in almost full volume. However, the continuous exposure to the irritating factor causes a densification of the formation structure.
Purulent bursitis
Symptoms of purulent bursitis are most pronounced compared to other forms. Characteristic is severe soreness. Its intensity depends on the severity of the inflammatory process. The elbow feels hot to the touch, the skin swells, movements are very limited. In addition, purulent bursitis has characteristic signs of severe intoxication. The patient's temperature rises greatly, weakness and a feeling of overwork develop.
How to identify elbow bursitis disease?
Diagnosis of ulnar bursitis
It is possible to determine the nature of the impact of bursitis and prescribe therapy only after certain diagnostic measures have been taken. Diagnosis of the disease should be done by a traumatologist or orthopedist, who previously collects an anamnesis and visually assesses the patient's condition. In advanced situations, some research may be required.
- X-ray examination. It allows to detect the presence of the inflammatory process and determine the zone of its localization.
- Ultrasonography. Allows you to specify the location and size of the affected tissue sites. With the help of ultrasound, the volume of exudate is also determined.
- MRI It is prescribed to the patient only in the most extreme cases, if the doctor suggests the probability of complete removal of the joint bag.
How is ulnar bursitis treated at home?
Therapy
The technique for treating ulnar bursitis, regardless of its form, is the same in all cases:
- If an inflammatory process is detected in the elbow or if it is suspected that the pathology is bursitis, an elastic and tight dressing should be applied immediately. It will reduce motor activity and thereby provide the joint with rest.
- Alternate application of hot and cold compress will reduce the severity of pain.
- In order to avoid the progression of pathology, traumatologists advise to ensure complete rest for the affected elbow.
- An increase in the load on the joint as it heals should occur slowly and gradually.
Which doctor should i contact with ulnar bursitis?
After a superficial examination of the victim, familiarization with the medical history, the therapist directs the patient to a specialist. Such specialists are:
- traumatologists;
- orthopedists;
- surgeons
- rheumatologists;
- arthrologists.
Doctors have a certain specialization, will help in the treatment of bursitis of the elbow joint.
Drug therapy
Therapy of elbow bursitis should always begin with fixation of the elbow joint with an elastic bandage. For severe pain, doctors recommend taking anti-inflammatory medications. To date, the most popular of them are drugs based on ibuprofen.
With bursitis in the acute stage, glucocorticosteroid injections or ointments should be used. Hydrocortisone in their composition is able to quickly stop the symptoms of inflammation, reduce the amount of synovial fluid in the joint bag.
The following antibiotics are most often used for bursitis of the elbow joint:
- "Cephalotin";
- "Oxacillin";
- Clindamycin.
In case of a disease of a non-specific nature, antibiotics are used that purposefully act on pathogenic microflora and sulfonamide drugs.
If there is a suspicion of joining the infection, the patient is shown to be aspirated. Such a procedure can be not only therapeutic, but also diagnostic. Pain in the joint is relieved due to the fact that the doctor during aspiration reduces the amount of fluid in the bag. After the procedure, the resulting liquid is sent for laboratory testing. Based on the results of bacteriological tests, antibiotic drugs may be prescribed to the patient. The use of antibiotics is allowed only if bursitis has a hemorrhagic or serous form, and is strictly contraindicated if bursitis is in a purulent form.
Dimexide
One of the most effective drugs for the treatment of inflammation in the elbow synovial bag is "Dimexide", which is used for compresses. Previously, the medicine should be diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 4, and then applied to the gauze bandage and applied to the damaged elbow for half an hour. The medication is able to stretch the pus and prevent its appearance.
The most popular and effective ointments for bursitis of the elbow joint are:
- "Indomethacin."
- Diclofenac.
- Voltaren.
- "Traumeel S."
In cases where the process of inflammation develops as a result of professional activity, experts recommend that the patient think about changing his job. Each case of therapeutic effect with bursitis should end with a course of physiotherapeutic procedures. This will prevent relapse of the disease.
Also in the treatment of ulnar bursitis at home, folk remedies are used.
Folk remedies
An alternative method of treating bursitis is to use leeches. They should be placed slightly above or below the elbow joint. Hirudotherapy allows you to accelerate the movement of blood in the affected area, to reduce stagnation and ischemia of tissues.
The leech affects the inflammatory process with several active substances, one of which effectively fights blood clots, blood clots that can appear in the affected area.
Compresses for bursitis of the elbow joint are very effective.
Some mixes prepared according to popular recipes can be used. They are applied to the dressing and make a compress on the affected area. However, experts report that with bursitis, the use of funds with a warming effect is unacceptable. Therefore, it is necessary to use exclusively non-aggressive agents:
- Burdock root. It is necessary to prepare it in the off-season, when the green part has not yet appeared. For therapy, you should prepare a decoction of pre-ground root. You should take a tablespoon of burdock root, pour it with very hot water in the amount of one glass. You should take 150 ml of decoction three times a day. These proportions of ingredients are used to prepare the composition for the compress.
- Leaf of cabbage. You need to take a soft sheet of white cabbage and lightly beat it with a hammer to beat meat. Juice from the beaten sheet stands out more actively. Next, the leaf is applied to the affected area and fixed with an elastic bandage, which together with the leaf is left overnight. The course of therapy using cabbage leaf should be at least 25 procedures. This method has an advantage over other means - it is allowed to use cabbage leaf with bursitis in a purulent form.
Quite often, with folk treatment for ulnar bursitis, a tortilla is used, in which onions and honey are added. To prepare it, take the juice of one onion, mix it with honey in the amount of two tablespoons. Flour should be added so that the dough is thick. A small amount of alcohol is added to the prepared mixture. The dough thus obtained must be applied to the patient's elbow, fixed with an elastic bandage, tied with a woolen product, and left overnight.
Surgical treatment of ulnar bursitis
If drug therapy is ineffective, specialists resort to surgical treatment. Surgical methods are effective even in the event of complications. Upon completion of the manipulation, the surgeon removes part of the wall of the articular bag or excises the bursa. If purulent discharge is present, it is not excluded that it is necessary to open the affected area in order to treat it with a solution of iodine.
Following the surgical intervention, drug therapy should be prescribed. It involves the use of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs. Currently, surgeons use a laser to open the joint bag.
Bursitis prophylaxis
Methods for the prevention of ulnar bursitis are quite simple. It is imperative to treat wounds and injuries of the joint, to act comprehensively for any manifestations of inflammation. In cases where labor activity is associated with frequent injuries of the elbow, it is recommended to use special protective dressings.