What is bursitis?

Bursitis is painful swelling in a small, fluid-filled sac called a bursa. Bursae (the plural of bursa) cushion spaces around bones and other tissue. They’re like bubble wrap that protects structures throughout your body. Bursae cushion the spaces between bones and your:

• Muscles.
• Tendons.
• Skin.

Bursitis happens when a bursa becomes irritated and swells. The most common causes of bursitis are overuse and putting too much pressure on a bursa. The pain from an inflamed bursa may develop suddenly or build up over time.

Types of bursitis

There are more than 150 bursae in your body. Bursitis can affect any of them. You’re most likely to develop bursitis in joints you use for repetitive motions or in places you put a lot of pressure, including your:

• Shoulders (subacromial bursitis).
• Elbows (olecranon bursitis — sometimes called miner’s elbow or barfly’s elbow).
• Knees (prepatellar bursitis — housemaid’s knee).
• Feet (especially near your heel, big toe or the ball of your foot).
• Hips (iliopectineal or trochanteric bursitis).
• Butt (ischial bursitis or weaver’s bottom).

Healthcare providers might refer to different types of bursitis with a specific name, but they’re all the same issue — swelling in and around a bursa.

What are bursitis symptoms?

The most common symptoms of bursitis are:

• Pain, especially when you’re moving the affected part of your body.
• A limited range of motion (how far you can move a body part).
• Swelling.

If you have an infection that’s causing bursitis, you might have other symptoms, including:

• Discoloration or redness on your skin.
• A feeling of warmth or heat.
• Fever.
• Chills.

What causes bursitis?

Repetitive motions — like a pitcher throwing a baseball or lifting heavy boxes at work — commonly cause bursitis. Spending time in positions that put pressure on a specific part of your body (such as kneeling) can cause it, too.

It’s less common, but injuries and infections can cause bursitis, as well.

Activities that can lead to bursitis include:

• Carpentry.
• Gardening and raking.
• Painting.
• Poor posture or a poorly positioned joint or bone (due to different leg lengths, bone spurs, or arthritis in a joint).
• Scrubbing.
• Shoveling.
• Playing sports like tennis, golf and baseball.
• Playing an instrument.

Bursitis risk factors

Anyone can experience bursitis. People who are more likely to develop it include:

• Athletes.
• People who do physical work or manual labor.
• Musicians.

People with certain health conditions have a higher risk of bursitis, including:

• Arthritis (especially inflammatory arthritis like gout and psoriatic arthritis).
• Diabetes.
• Thyroid disease.

How is bursitis diagnosed?

A healthcare provider will diagnose bursitis with a physical exam. They’ll ask you about your symptoms and examine the area around your affected body part. Tell your provider what you were doing before you noticed symptoms for the first time and if your job or a hobby requires you to do a repetitive motion.

What tests are done to diagnose bursitis?

Your provider might use some tests to diagnose bursitis, including:

• X-rays to rule out other conditions.
• Ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to detect swollen bursae.
• A blood test to look for infection.
• An aspiration (taking a sample of fluid) of your affected bursa if they think it’s infected.

What is the best way to treat bursitis?

Usually, rest is all you’ll need to treat bursitis. Avoid the activity or positions that irritated your bursa.

Taking a break from activities that put pressure on that part of your body will give it time to heal and prevent further injury. Ask your provider how long you’ll need to rest and avoid physical activities.

Your provider might suggest at-home treatments to reduce the pain and swelling while your bursa heals:

• Elevate the injured area.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen. Don’t take pain relievers for more than 10 days in a row without talking to your provider.
• Ice the area. Apply a cold compress or ice packs wrapped in a thin towel to the area for 15 minutes at a time, a few times a day.
• Apply heat (like a heating pad or a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel). Your provider might suggest alternating ice and heat.
• Wear a splint, sling or brace to keep the injured area supported.

Most cases of bursitis heal on their own with rest and at-home treatments. But your provider may recommend additional treatment options, including:

• Antibiotics if you have an infection.
• Physical therapy to increase your range of motion.
• Occupational therapy to learn how to move in ways that don’t stress the area.
• Corticosteroid injections to decrease inflammation and pain.
• Surgery to resect (remove) your bursa if other treatments aren’t effective and you’re still experiencing symptoms for six months or longer.

How can I prevent bursitis?

The best way to prevent bursitis is to avoid overusing your body. To prevent bursitis:

• Learn the proper posture or technique for sports or work activities.
• Ease into new exercises or activities to avoid injury.
• Avoid sitting or kneeling too long. These positions put a lot of pressure on your joints.
• Use cushions and pads when you kneel or lean on your elbows.
• Take breaks if you’re doing a repetitive task.

How long does bursitis usually last?

Bursitis is usually short-lived. Most people heal within a few weeks. Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations and don’t resume physical activities before your bursa has healed. Even if your pain improves, putting pressure or stress on your bursa before it’s completely healed increases your risk of reinjuring it.

Will I need to miss work or school while I’m recovering from bursitis?

If a repetitive motion that’s part of your job or studies causes bursitis, you might need to miss work or school while you’re recovering. Tell your provider about your usual routine and they’ll explain which parts of it you need to modify or take a break from while you’re resting your injured bursa.

What happens if bursitis is left untreated?

The longer you put pressure or additional stress on an injured bursa, the longer it’ll take to recover. It also increases your risk of chronic bursitis (bursitis that comes and goes in the same area).

Chronic bursitis

You can get bursitis more than once in the same area. When you have repeated bursitis episodes, it’s considered a chronic (long-lasting) condition. Bursitis may come and go. The same kind of irritation that caused the original inflammation can trigger a new episode. Repeated flare-ups may damage the bursa and reduce your mobility in that joint.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Visit a healthcare provider if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Pain that interferes with your day-to-day activities.
• Soreness that doesn’t get better in a few days with at-home treatment.
• Bursitis that comes back (recurs).
• Fever.
• Discoloration or redness, swelling or a feeling of warmth in an injured area.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

• Which type of bursitis do I have?
• Will I need any tests?
• Which treatments will I need?
• How long do I need to rest?
• When can I resume sports or other physical activities?

What is the difference between bursitis and arthritis?

Arthritis and bursitis both affect your joints. Bursitis is usually a short-term issue that’s caused by overusing or putting excess stress on a bursa around one of your joints. It doesn’t create long-lasting damage unless you continue to stress the area.

Arthritis happens when cartilage in a joint breaks down over time. Arthritis is usually a long-term condition that you’ll need to manage for the rest of your life.

What is the difference between bursitis and tendinitis?

Bursitis and tendinitis are both painful conditions that happen when tissue in your body is irritated and swells. Bursitis is inflammation in one or more of your bursae.

Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon. Tendons are pieces of connective tissue between muscles and bones. Tendinitis can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).

Doing a repetitive activity can cause both bursitis and tendinitis — like doing the same motion for a sport, or using the same part of your body for physical work frequently.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Bursitis is painful, and it can be frustrating to learn your job or hobby you love caused an injury inside your body. The good news is that bursitis is usually preventable. The first step is figuring out which movements caused the irritation.

Your healthcare provider will help you find treatments that let your injured bursae heal and solutions to prevent bursitis in the future. Don’t rush your recovery — rest for as long as your provider suggests. It might be annoying to skip sports or an activity that you’re used to doing every day, but it’s important to give your body all the time it needs to heal.

What is a breast cyst?

A breast cyst is a noncancerous (benign), fluid-filled sac in your breast. It occurs when fluid fills an empty milk duct. Some cysts are too small to feel, while others grow up to several inches — large enough for you to feel and even make you uncomfortable. Clusters of cysts can form in one breast or both. Breast cysts don’t increase your risk of developing breast cancer. They also don’t “turn into” anything more serious.

You’re more likely to get breast cysts if you’re:

• Between 35 and 50 years old.
• Premenopausal (still have a menstrual cycle).
• Postmenopausal (no longer have a menstrual cycle) but take hormone therapy (HRT).

Types of breast cysts

There are three types of breast cysts:

• Simple breast cyst: Filled entirely with fluid, simple cysts are always noncancerous. There’s no solid area in the cyst and the cyst wall is smooth. They make up about 90% of all breast cysts.
• Complex breast cyst: This type of cyst, which has a mix of fluid and solid components, may be breast cancer in up to 20% of cases. Your provider typically biopsies the tissue, which means they remove part of your breast tissue and send it to a lab for analysis.
• Complicated breast cyst: A complicated cyst is fluid-filled, but may have some cloudiness to the fluid, or the borders may be somewhat irregular. Sometimes, these are aspirated with a needle biopsy and then the tissue is sent for analysis. Other times, a provider may recommend a follow-up appointment in six months because there’s just a small chance (less than 2%) of it being cancerous.

Breast cysts can also be microcysts or macrocysts. Most breast tissue contains microcysts, which are very tiny and may be seen by ultrasound or even just under a microscope. Macrocysts are larger and can often be felt.

How common are breast cysts?

Breast cysts are common. About 7% of all women and people assigned female at birth will get a breast cyst at one point in their lives.

What are the symptoms of a breast cyst?

Some cysts are so small you can’t feel them. If you have a larger breast cyst, you may feel a lump that’s:

• Soft or firm, although most are soft.
• Round and smooth with distinct edges.
• Painful or tender, especially before your menstrual cycle.
• Larger just before your period starts and smaller after your period.
• Easily movable under your skin (especially large cysts).

Breast cysts can be tiny — like a grain of rice or a pea. They can also be as large as a golf ball. Many people notice their cyst changes or becomes sore just before their period when hormone levels change. Others have nipple discharge or localized pain.

What causes breast cysts?

The exact cause of breast cysts is still unknown. Experts believe natural hormonal fluctuations may cause them to form. Breast cysts don’t usually develop after menopause when estrogen levels taper off. It’s also thought to be a part of the normal life cycle of a breast — when the milk-producing glandular tissue shrinks (involution) and fluid becomes trapped.

What are the complications of this condition?

There aren’t any life-threatening complications of breast cysts. They can become infected, or can become large, tense and painful and require aspiration.

If you have a high risk of breast cancer, your healthcare provider may recommend frequent monitoring or additional testing.

How are breast cysts diagnosed?

Healthcare providers often find breast cysts during routine mammograms that screen for breast cancer. But you may also discover a larger breast cyst on your own. To diagnose a breast cyst, your provider may:

• Perform a physical exam to feel the consistency of the lump and note its exact location.
• Order an ultrasound of your breast. This will show if the lump is solid or filled with fluid.
• Order a mammogram if you’re older than 30 or if you’re due for one.

If you’re at higher risk for cancer, your provider may also recommend a breast MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). This is the most sensitive test to detect breast cancer early in people who are high-risk.

How is a breast cyst aspiration performed?

During needle biopsy (also called an aspiration), a healthcare provider inserts a hollow needle into the cyst. The cyst will collapse as the fluid is withdrawn.

How are breast cysts treated?

In most cases, you don’t need treatment. Simple breast cysts don’t cause any harm and sometimes even go away on their own.

If the cyst is uncomfortable, your healthcare provider can drain the fluid from it with a needle. However, the fluid could come back. If it returns and continues to be painful, you may need surgery to remove it.

For complicated or complex breast cysts, you may need more frequent checkups to keep tabs on any changes.

Do breast cysts go away?

Often, breast cysts go away on their own. It’s important to contact a healthcare provider if you notice any changes in your breasts so they can examine you. Performing breast self-exams and attending annual well visits or mammograms go a long way in noticing these changes.

What can happen if a breast cyst is untreated?

A breast cyst may not require any treatment. If it’s very small and not causing you pain, your healthcare provider may decide to give it time to go away on its own. But if you’re uncomfortable or the cyst continues to grow, draining the fluid may be the best way to treat your symptoms.

How do I prevent breast cysts?

You can’t prevent breast cysts. But regular self-exams and routine mammograms are good ways to manage overall breast health. Never assume a new lump is “just a cyst.” It’s always better to contact a healthcare provider for an exam.

Can a breast cyst be cancerous?

It can be, but the chances are low. Simple cysts are benign and make up most cases of breast lumps (about 90%). Complicated cysts are also usually benign (less than 2% risk of cancer). A complex cyst is the highest chance of being cancerous at about 14% to 23%.

Do breast cysts increase your risk of breast cancer?

Breast cysts don’t increase your breast cancer risk.

Can a breast cyst turn into a tumor?

A benign breast cyst doesn’t change to a tumor. This is a common misconception.

Are breast cysts serious?

Breast cysts are very common in women and people assigned female at birth and usually aren’t a sign of a problem.

When should I worry about a breast cyst?

Most breast cysts are harmless and shouldn’t be a cause for worry. But it’s a good idea to have your healthcare provider check out any breast cysts to be sure.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider about breast cysts?

If you’ve been diagnosed with a breast cyst, consider asking your provider:

• What type of breast cyst is it (simple, complicated or complex)?
• Does it need to be aspirated, biopsied or removed?
• Do I need more frequent mammograms or ultrasounds?
• Should I continue on hormone replacement therapy?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Breast cysts are common, especially among people in their 40s. The good news is that these cysts are almost always harmless. Though cysts are common, always have your healthcare provider check out any new lumps or bumps you find. It’s always best to be cautious when it comes to your health.