Elbow (Olecranon) Bursitis

Also known as: subtendinous olecranon bursitis, dialysis elbow, student's elbow, lunger's elbow, olecranon bursitis

The subcutaneous olecranon bursa (just below the skin) is exposed to injury during falls on the elbow and to infection from abrasions of the skin covering this area. Repeated excessive pressure and/or friction, as might occur in wrestling, for example, may cause this bursa to become inflamed, producing excessive friction and pain in this area. This type of bursitis is known as "dart thrower's elbow" and "miner's elbow".

Occasionally, the bursa becomes inflamed. Subtendinous olecranon bursitis is much less common, resulting from excessive friction between the triceps tendon and olecranon. This may result, for example, from repeated flexion-extension of the forearm as occurs during certain assembly line jobs, and is one of many repetitive motion type injuries. The pain is most severe during the flexion of the forearm because of pressure exerted on the inflamed subtendinous olecranon bursa by the triceps tendon.

Treating Bursitis in Your Elbow

Relieving the symptoms of olecranon bursitis initially focuses on taking the pressure of the bursa. This can be done with proper cushioning and protective equipment during potentially damaging activities and sports. If your bursitis is caused by an infection (septic bursitis), the doctor will probably drain the bursa sac with a needle and perscribe antibiotics to treat the infection.

For non-infectious bursitis, treatment starts with non-iinvasive options such as ultrasound thereapy, cold therapy and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy. Surgery to remove the inflamed bursa is normally not required for bursitis, however if you fail to see improvement with the conservative treatments, your physician may recommend surgery to remove the bursa completely. Although this removes the problem of an inflamed bursa, you are left with less cushioning in your joint which can lead to a host of other conditions.

The most important factor in healing bursitis (and tendonitis) is resting your elbow. This can be difficult when you have to carry on with daily activities, but resting and elevating your elbow whenever you can is recommended. During your recovery you will probably have to modify or avoid the activities that stress your bursa until your pain and inflammation settle. Scar tissue can often develop with tendinitis and/or bursitis. As your damaged tissues heal this dead, fibrotic tissue is naturally produced instead of forming brand new healthy tissue. This scar tissue adheres to your muscle fibers, tendons, ligaments, and nerves causing pain and preventing them from moving properly; this limits your range of motion, flexibility and strength in your elbow. However, the more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results.

Treatments should involve decreasing swelling, relieving pain and stress on the elbow, and then restoring strength and mobility to your joint. It is important to follow any instructions you receive from your physician. If you are performing an activity that could cause further trauma to the bursa, it is recommended that you protect the area with padding to prevent further irritation or damage.

To decrease inflammation and relieve pain caused by olecranon bursitis rest your elbow and limit activity to reduce pressure on the inflamed bursa. Then use cold therapy, ultrasound therapy and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST) to rid yourself of bursitis.

Cold Compression Therapy

The R.I.C.E. Treatment Philosophy

This treatment philosophy is used to decrease inflammation and relieve pain for a chronic or acute bursitis within the first 48 hours of a flare-up.

• Rest and limit your activity, to decrease swelling and minimize further inflammation in the bursa.
• Ice your elbow to help reduce blood flow and fluid build up.
• Compress the area if possible by adding light pressure to minimize swelling (make sure the compress is snug, but not too tight as it could cause numbness, tingling or more pain).
• Elevate your elbow to relieve the pressure from swelling and allow fluid to drain from your injured area.

Applying cold to your inflamed bursa will help decrease the swelling and redness in the area. Cold therapy will also help to numb the pain in your elbow and help to control the inflammation.

Icing the bursa as needed throughout the day, for approximately 15 - 20 minutes at a time, is recommended to reduce pain, swelling, redness and inflammation. Do not apply ice directly on your skin, rather wrap it in a cloth or towel or, better yet, use a cold gel pack that fits easily and comfortably to your body.

The cold compression Elbow Freezie Wrap™ can be used to apply cold in a safe, convenient and effective way - and the gel pack is reusable. The gel pack sits over the inflamed bursa to reduce swelling and redness. The wrap is soft and adjustable so it fits your elbow properly, without irritating the bursa, and allows you to adjust the compression. This is important when treating an inflamed bursa because too much pressure can cause you further pain. You control how much pressure the bursa receives so you can benefit from the compression to hold the cold where you need it, without increasing your pain.

Applying cold to your tender joint is the first step in treating your bursitis. Once severe inflammation has been reduce, you can begin using ultrasound therapy and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy to continue the healing process.

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound has been used by physical therapists and chiropractors for years to treat bursitis. By applying ultrasound therapy to your sore bursa (and tendon if you suffer from tennis or golfer's elbow as well) you can reduce the inflamed fluid that has built up in the bursa. In addition, ultrasound therapy will treat any other soft tissue conditions that you may be experiencing in your elbow such as gout, repetitive strain injury (RSI), arthritis, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow) and more. By treating yourself with ultrasound everyday, you are able to rid yourself of bursitis pain; this is best accomplished with a personal, therapeutic ultrasound device.

Ultrasound therapy is a great therapeutic option to decrease inflammation, pain and soft tissue (muscle, connective and nerve tissue) damage experienced with bursitis and other soft tissue injuries. The treatment is easy, painless, and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes of your time. It is based on a form of deep thermal therapy which is generated through high frequency sound waves that reach into the cells of the tissue. These sound waves help to reduce the fluid build up in the bursa, heal any tissue damaged through trauma, reduce scar tissue, as well as reduce any crystal or calcific deposits that may have gathered in the area.

The sound waves send vibrations into your bursa and surrounding tissue to raise the temperature of your soft tissue. By raising the temperature, blood flow increases to the area, delivering nutrient filled blood to heal the area and whisking away the excess fluid and damaged tissue. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer along with MendMeShop medicinal conductive gel in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the injured area.

If not treated properly, injured tissue can heal with a weakened state which can lead to scar tissue or calcification, adding to the bursitis pain you are already experiencing. If used on an ongoing basis, ultrasound will help to break down any scar tissue that may form in your elbow, maintaining flexibility and range of motion in the joint.

The MendMeShop Ultrasound Therapy System is the device you need to treat your bursitis once and for all. It comes with a bottle of the MendMeShop Lavender Infusion Gel so you get two therapies in one. The medicinal ingredients of natural Bulgarian lavender, eucalyptus, peppermint and menthol help to stimulate blood flow, widen blood vessels to enhance blood flow, and act as an anti-inflammatory deep in the tissue to enhance your ultrasound therapy through a process called phonophoresis.

Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy

When your bursa is injured and inflamed, your body needs a fresh supply of blood to rid the area of inflammation and get your bursa and any other damaged tissue back to normal. Unfortunately, when you have bursitis in your elbow it is painful to use your arm normally. When you limit movement in your arn the blood flow is reduced, starving your tissue of the necessary oxygen and nutrients. The trick is to find a way to increase the healing flow of blood without causing pain and/or further inflaming the bursa. This is where Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST) becomes a powerful tool. BFST compliments your body’s natural healing process by promoting the flow of blood to your elbow while you give it the rest it needs.

The Elbow Inferno Wrap™ uses a patented process to generate the same energy that is part of the sun's spectrum of light, the same energy that is necessary to all living things for optimum health. The energy emitted from the Energy Web™ delivers waves to the bursa and surrounding tissue and stimulates blood flow to your elbow. By reaching deep into your bursa and tendons, you are able to reduce the inflammation in your bursa and whisk away the toxins that build up from inflammation and tissue damage.

Once you have calmed the pain and inflammation in your bursa with the use of the Freezie Wrap™ you can begin the healing process with ultrasound therapy and BFST. This 3 step process is the most effective method to treat your swollen and painful bursa, reduce the inflamed fluid in the bursa and heal any tissue damage.

Pain and Anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) can be used if required to help manage your pain. However, these aren't recommended for long term use, as they can cause gastrointestinal difficulties and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The use of cold therapy, ultrasound and BFST in conjunction with NSAIDs can greatly improve the effect of this medication and can help you heal quicker.

Rehabiliation Exercise

Physical Therapy is a beneficial way to restore atrophied muscles and improve elbow strength and mobility after treating bursitis. The type of physical therapy and the duration will be dependent on the tissue damage and your symptoms. When you are treating or recovering from bursitis, it is important to ensure you do not perform any exercises that will further irritate the bursa.

Once your pain starts to diminish, your doctor or physiotherapist can set up an individualized strengthening and stretching exercise program for you to perform at home or in the gym. This will be based on your needs and abilities, and will help you return to performing your normal routines. It is extremely important to strengthen your muscles properly, as they may have weakened during the period of non-use. A trained therapist will help to ensure your rehabilitation process is effective. For best, long term results use ultrasound and BFST in conjunction with physical therapy and an exercise program.

During your recovery, you may have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your elbow until your pain and inflammation settle, and you gain more mobility and strength. The more diligent you are with your rehabilitation and therapies, the faster you will see successful results.