Has anyone had sub-scapular bursitis? What was/is your treatment?

I have been found to have sub-scapular bursitis. I have had a hard time finding a doctor who knows anything about it. I am going to a new doctor in a larger town on Friday and am wondering what to expect now. I have already had two sub-scapular injections and the last one didn't work. I am looking for what else is out there...

With proper care for the area, the pain in the bursa should lessen over three weeks, but it should be noted that the healing of the area continues and doesn't even peak until at least six weeks following the initial injury. This is due to scar tissue formation, which initially acts like the glue to bond the tissue back together. Scar tissue will continue to form past six weeks in some cases and as long as a year in severe cases. After 6 months this condition is considered chronic and much more difficult to treat. The initial approach to treating a bursitis is to support and protect the bursa by bracing any areas of the tendon that are being pulled on during use, as this will help stop bursa friction from occurring. It is important to loosen up the tendons, lessen the pain, minimize any bursa inflammation, and reduce the compression that can occur with lying down or sitting.

The pressure can be reduced while sleeping by using a softer bed topper like a memory foam mattress pad or even getting a new mattress that is composed with memory foam and/or latex foam. Memory foam and latex foam reduce compression because they are the only substances that conform with the bumps and curves of the body and can thereby reduce the pressure spot by more evenly disbursing the weight of the body. See memoryfoammattress.org for information on this subject. Reducing bursa inflammation and soothing the pain of bursitis can be done topically if a pain reliever has the ability to penetrate the skin barrier and contains anti-inflammatory agents. A topical formula that contains natural menthol will not only relieve pain, but dilate the blood vessels. This allows for relief of the bursitis, without causing any stiffening of the tissue. MSM, also known as Methyl Sulfonyl Methane is a natural supplement that is getting a lot of attention due to its role in tissue healing at a cellular level. It is a natural organic sulfur that comes from rain fall and is found naturally in the human body. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the tissues. See all about Glucosamine and MSM for more information this supplement. Ice can relieve inflammation, but will constrict the blood vessels and further stiffen the joint area. Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation, but unfortunately are very caustic and can cause a weakening of the tissue structure and a create more scar tissue. Dr. Swartzburg, our site editor, worked in conjunction with our sponsor, Relief-Mart, to develop a spray for Bursitis called Therapain Plus. It has all natural pain relievers plus 14,000mg of MSM and Glucosamine.

After the scar tissue has begun to accumulate, it will be important to perform procedures which help break down the scar tissue in the tendon tissue, so as to let the tendon and muscle regain it's normal flexibility and lessen the chance of further injury. While exercise is appropriate for breaking down scar tissue once the area has healed, it may further irritate the area during the initial stages. Therefore, other methods that can be performed by your healthcare provider, such as ultrasound and massage, may be safely used to accomplish this early on in the injury. Ultrasound uses sound waves that vibrate a such a fast level, that it cannot be felt with normal use. Ultrasound will cause an increase in circulation to the tissue and soften the scar tissue to allow it to further break down. Ultrasound can also be used as phonophoresis to help topical pain and nutrient solutions reach further down into the tissues by transporting them with the sound waves. Light stretches may also be performed if they do not cause any further irritation to the area.



Bursitis Prevention
Prevention of this condition requires stretching the muscle on a regular basis and thereby lengthening the tendon connections around the bursa. This will allow less friction to the tendon/bursa/bone connection. As mentioned previously, reducing the compression with sitting or lying down is crucial for helping to keep the bursa from losing its natural lubrication and allowing the bursa friction to occur more readily. When bursitis does occur, it is important to treat it immediately, and thereby prevent it from reaching a stage that is more severe.

the shots you had were probably steroid and local anethetic. These shots, high dose NSAID's and physical therapy are the mainstay of treatment, it is treatable rather curable illness, good luck

Well, I'll try to explain bursitis as best I can. Think about a car. The tires revolve which then moves the car. If you look closely at a tire, who will notice ball bearings within the wheel. The ball bearings' function is to reduce friction between the wheel and the chassis of the car. A bursa serves the same function but in a human body. Muscles contract and relax as you move. But muscles rubbing against other muscles or bones create friction. Therefore, the busra serves to reduce that friction and allow muscles to move fluidly. Unfortunately, the bursa can become inflamed (i.e. bursa + itis = bursitis; itis is Latin for inflammation)

In your case, the bursas for the subscapular muscle is inflamed, causing you a lot of pain. Your doctor most likely gave you an injection of lidocaine and corticosteroid. The lidocaine is short acting analgesic (i.e. pain reliever) while the corticosteroid decreases the inflammation. Unfortunately, in your case, it didn't help, which is quite common. Some people respond to the injections others don't. The medical guidelines recommend a maximum of 3 injections within a 12 months period.

It might benefit you to see a physiatrist, a doctor who specializes in rehabilitation medicine. Physical therapy is a good thing. Physical therapy will help you develop other muscles surronding the subscapular muscle; thereby, putting less strand on the muscle and bursa. Ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin) is good for occasional use but should not be taken continually. You might benefit by taking another pain reliever called "Cox 2 Inhibitor." An example would be Celebrex. It would like ibuprofen but without the side effects. It should not cause gastric inflammation or ulcers.

no I haven't had this condition.