3. Bursitis
Bursitis is a really painful condition that affects the small, fluid-filled sacs (also known as bursae) which are supposed to protect the bones, tendons and muscles near your joints. When that fluid-filled sac gets inflamed, your diagnosis will be bursitis.
As strange as it may sound, bursitis is a common cause of shoulder pain, occurring in people over 50 who have diabetes; athletes, especially those who do a lot of repetitive overhead reaching, such as basketball players and swimmers. “I tell patients it’s like a ziplock bag with some water in it, so it protects you,” Fedich explains.
“If you triple the amount of water in the bag, it gets swollen and hurts.” That pain, he adds, is “typically constant, present even during rest, and usually gets worse with activity.” Treatment includes NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, such as Aleve), ice, range-of-motion and strength exercises, and ultrasound therapy.
