Q: Which doctor should I consult for shoulder bursitis?
A: You should visit your family doctor to get the symptoms examined. Based on the medical history, your doctor will provide anti-inflammatory medications and recommend you to visit a physiotherapist to treat the dislocation or error in shoulder movement with appropriate exercises.
Q: What are the different names for shoulder bursitis?
A: Shoulder bursitis may be referred to as subacromial shoulder pain, rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder impingement, or biceps tendonitis.
Q: What are the conditions that can be mistaken for shoulder pain?
A: Cervical radiculopathy due to cervical spine osteoarthritis, adhesive capsulitis, and deterioration of the acromioclavicular joint can cause similar symptoms as shoulder pain due to impingement or bursitis.
Q: What is frozen shoulder?
A: Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) results from bone loss but bone recovery is possible.
Q: Is cold treatment better for bursitis?
A: Bursitis swelling is reduced with placing a cold pack on the swollen area for nearly 30 minutes at least twice or thrice a day. A hot pack, on the other hand, would increase the inflammation.
Q: What is the prognosis of shoulder bursitis?
A: Outcome depends on the cause. Bursitis due to injury will resolve in a few weeks with treatment. Bursitis due to overuse may take weeks to months to heal. The condition may be chronic if it is due to an underlying condition such as rheumatoid arthritis.
