Patient Comments: Bursitis - Describe Your Experience

Please describe your experience with bursitis.

Comment from: xxkal22xx, 13-18 Female (Patient) Published: October 06

I am a 15 year old female and I have bursitis in my left ankle. I am pretty sure I have it in a few other places too, my shoulders and hips. I have been on an antiinflammatory for a while now. Mine was caused from years of cheerleading and tumbling injuries. Since I am the base of the stunt, catching the flyer puts a lot of stress on my body. It's pretty sad that I have ended up with this at such a young age. It is very painful and it burns really bad. I went on with it extremely swollen for 2 weeks before I went to the doctor. There was a chance that if I wanted to continue to cheer in college I might have not been able to cheer the rest of high school. I was crushed because on top of having bursitis I have severe trauma and several stress fractures in my ankle and shin plus shin splints. My hips burn horribly and I can barley walk up stairs anymore. At school it's really difficult getting around because we have a lot of steps and I cringe going up them. My cheerleading skills are going down because of the pain. I just can't do the things I used to be able to. There is no way I can continue to cheer anymore the pain is just to much to handle and I am a really tough person when it comes to getting hurt.

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Comment from: rosebud, 55-64 Female (Patient) Published: September 12

I've been suffering from what I suppose is bursitis in my right hip for years now. I had sciatica but was able to get it under control with steroid shots to my spine some years ago. I love to go on long walks. By the time I get home I'm limping and in agony. Someone described the feeling as "on fire" which is right on. I've tried ice packs, Tylenol for arthritis, physical therapy and those don't work. Previously, I took OxyContin and Percocet, which I weaned myself off of a couple years ago. Being addicted to prescription drugs is worse than the pain. I'm thinking of trying cortisone shots again. There doesn't seem to be any new breakthroughs in treatment. I sympathize with all of you who have this ailment. No one can understand the constant pain, struggle to walk, or the inability to get comfortable in bed. My heart goes out to you.

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Comment from: CMT, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: August 28

I am a 51-year-old female who was told today that I have bursitis in my left shoulder. This pain has been going on for two months now, and I have no idea what caused it. My doctor told me to try a certain kind of pillow because I am a side sleeper. It is shaped kind of like a rounded mountain on one end, dips down in the middle, and then flattens out on the other end. She drew it for me so I don't know the name of it. She said normally you would sleep with your head on the high side, but she said to turn it around so your head is in the middle and the high side at the bottom, also put a small roll pillow between your knees. The theory is supposed to be that it keeps your spine aligned and doesn't allow you to either stretch your arm above your head, nor to bunch it up in a fetal-like position. I am going to the store to get one after work. We will see what happens tonight. I hope this can help someone else also.

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Comment from: Kimmi, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: August 21

I have chronic bursitis in one hip. I am under the care of a rheumatologist for arthritis and have had several injections in the affected hip over several months. Sometimes the corticosteroid shot helps, sometimes it does not. Recently, the pain has become more intense and impacts my daily activities. After having my second ankle replacement in the same foot, I sit quite a bit. The pain is hard to control with Lortab 10. Normal things are so painful, by the end of each day, I'm miserable. I just don't know what to do. It doesn't seem normal to hurt like this for extended periods of time. I take Arava for my arthritis as well as Lortab for the pain. I'm so uncomfortable and painful all the time, depression is another unwanted result. I feel hopeless sometimes, and then ashamed because it's just pain, not cancer. People don't understand. My family doesn't understand. All I can do is just keep on keeping on and do things even though it hurts. Why can't my rheumatologist help me?

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Comment from: Cardinal Gal, 45-54 Female (Patient) Published: August 12

I am a 47 year old female, who has dealt with bursitis in my right hip for 20 years now. I have tried Chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, physical therapy, naproxen, and twice have had Cortizone shots (they worked a whole week or two). I can't get comfortable at night and wake up often to such severe burning, pain in my thigh that I scream and cry. I am so tired of hurting! It is at its worst when I am trying to sleep, sitting next and standing is the least pain, but I have a limp half of the time. I was relieved when I saw this website that other people may know what kind of pain I am living with. I just had a MRI done and I am waiting on the results. They checked my lower back and right hip. A friend, who has just been dealing with this recently for a year or so, just informed me her Doctor is having the bursa in her hip removed. I hope there is help for me, this was the first time I had an MRI done on it!

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Related Medications: naproxen


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Bursitis - Symptoms Question: What signs or symptoms did you experience with your bursitis?
Bursitis - Diagnosis Question: What led to a diagnosis of bursitis?
Bursitis - Treatments Question: How did you treat the bursitis?

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