Question 1

My husband, who is a sanitation worker, has a sore shoulder that the doctor says is bursitis. If he continues in his job, will it just get worse?

Accepted Answer

The pressure and weight of A carrying trash cans over his shoulder has formed a bursa, which has become inflamed and swollen. Either your husband should change or vary his technique for carrying heavy boxes, or he should wear a special pad underneath his coat, which will prevent all the weight being taken by one spot. Without these changes, working will make the situation worse, as the area will become even more painful and swollen.

Question 2

I only have to do weeding for ten or 20 minutes and both my knees swell up. Is this gardener's knee?

Accepted Answer

Yes. For some unknown reason your knees are unduly sensitive, and you get bursitis easily. The only answer is to try various knee pads, or to avoid this type of gardening altogether.

Question 3

Does a bursa ever burst?

Accepted Answer

The only bursitis that bursts occurs when the cause is a bacterial infection; this is rare. Bursitis is not an abscess where cell linings are destroyed until pus is discharged. In acute bursitis the cells lining the bursa are inflamed and overactive, so fluid is formed under pressure. The pain and tension are easily removed by a doctor aspirating the fluid with a needle.