Bursitis is caused when the bursa, which are sacs inside the joints, become inflamed. The bursa help to cushion the joint. Repetitive motion and pressure on the joint can cause the bursa to become inflamed and painful. The joint will heal with rest and elevation, but pain relief is an immediate concern until the bursa have healed.
Heat and Ice
Keep your knee elevated and alternate between heat and ice treatment. These two treatments will reduce the inflammation and the pain that results. Painful joints are often stiff, and treating with heat and ice will help to loosen up the joint. Use a heating pad and ice pack to alternate your treatment.
When the inflammation is reduced, begin to strengthen the leg muscles around the joint to provide support and prevent another attack of bursitis.
Pain Medication
Use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil and Motrin to reduce the inflammation and pain of bursitis. These drugs are very effective for moderate bursitis pain. When the pain is severe, ask your doctor for prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medications to handle the pain. These medications can make it possible for you to regain motion in your injured knee. Use caution when using these medications over a long period. The prolonged use of NSAIDs can increase your risk of heart attack and bleeding in the stomach.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can offer pain relief when other methods fail. Ask for this treatment when you are not experiencing pain relief with NSAIDs or heat and ice treatment. Corticosteroids are usually reserved for those who are not able to reduce inflammation through other methods.
Alternative Remedies
Your pain may be relieved with alternative medicine treatments. Acupuncture can be used with or without herbs to treat bursitis of the knee pain. Always discuss your use of alternative medicine practices with your doctor before beginning any treatment that uses herbs.
Acupuncture and herbal remedies offer relief from the pain by reducing inflammation in the knee joint. Herbal plasters are pastes made of medicinal herbs and applied to the affected area. There has not been enough study on the use of herbs to treat knee bursitis.
Use alternative medicine as a complementary treatment to the remedies you are receiving from your doctor.
Surgery
Surgery for bursitis is very rare. The procedure involves removing the bursa from the knee joint.
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