I messed up on my question, I meant to ask bursitis instead or rheumatism,?

So what is the difference for a doctor to say you have bursitis{hopefully spelling right} then to say rhuematism or arthritis?

Okay, I am glad I asked about rheumatism anyway, I have learned alot on both questions. Thanks.

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, a small sac of fluid that cushions and lubricates an area where joint-related tissues鈥攊ncluding bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, or skin鈥攔ub against one another. Bursae (plural of bursa) are located throughout the body, in and on joints and other places that are at risk of rubbing or pressure. Bursitis can occur anywhere in the body where there is a bursa when inflammation causes the bursa to swell with fluid. The condition is often painful.

Bursitis can affect anyone, but those who perform repetitive tasks in their jobs, sports, or daily activities are at greater risk. It's likely that some of your daily activities, such as tool use, gardening, cooking, cleaning, and keyboarding, require repetitive movement. Also, continuous pressure or stress on a joint or a certain spot increases your risk of developing bursitis. For example, carpet layers, roofers, or gardeners who work on their knees all day can develop bursitis over the kneecap, and people who sit for long periods on hard surfaces can have bursitis over their seat bones.

What are common causes of bursitis?

Bursitis is caused by overuse and repeated movements, a sudden injury (often mild), long periods of pressure on an area, or aging and gradual degeneration of the bursa. Bursitis can also be caused by systemic conditions such as arthritis, infection (septic bursitis), or trauma (traumatic bursitis).

What are the symptoms?

Bursitis typically causes a dull pain, tenderness, and stiffness near the affected bursa. Bursitis inflammation can also make the bursa swell and cause the skin around it to appear red and feel warm to the touch.

The joint areas most commonly affected by bursitis are the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee. Bursitis may also occur near the Achilles tendon or in the foot.

Symptoms of bursitis may be similar to those of tendinopathy, because both occur in the tissues in and around the joints.

How is bursitis diagnosed?

Your joint-area symptoms probably can be diagnosed with a review of your medical history and recent activities and a physical exam.

If bursitis persists or worsens despite treatment, your health professional may draw fluid from the bursa through a needle (aspiration) and test it for infection or inflammation.

How is it treated?

Bursitis can often be treated at home. Treatment usually includes resting the painful area, applying ice, taking pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), and doing gentle exercises and stretching to prevent stiffness. These steps typically reduce pain and tenderness and allow the bursa to heal. Physical therapy may be recommended to strengthen the muscles around your joints.

Severe or long-lasting bursitis is sometimes treated by removing excess fluid from a swollen bursa with a needle and syringe (aspiration), applying a pressure bandage to the area, or both. If the fluid shows signs of bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment is necessary. Bursitis may also be treated with an injection of corticosteroid medication to reduce inflammation and, occasionally, with surgery to drain or remove the bursa.

Next time, don't explain - just repost the question as you intended it to be. No one will know.

Go to www.webmd.com to get info on these conditions and learn what you want to learn.

As was previously cut and pasted... A bursae is a fluid filled sack betwen tendons and bone in various parts of our body. Most common ones that most of us hear about are in the shoulder and hip. Bursitis is when they become inflammed causing pain in the area of the joint.

Arthritis is when there is inflammation in the joint or a build up of bone causing dysfunction within the joint.

So the difference is the bursae is inflammed in bursitis and the joint in arthritis. the root -itis means inflammation, -burs.. sack, -arth ..joint.