Bursitis or Fascial Adhesion / Tendinosis - Which Is Causing Your Chronic Pain?

By definition, bursitis is the inflammation ("itis" = inflammation) of small, fluid-filled sacs called bursa. These bursae reduce friction at potential "friction" points. Bursae are found in places where muscles or their corresponding tendons slide across bones. Healthy bursae create a smooth, almost frictionless, gliding surface that makes normal movement painless. However, when bursitis occurs, movement across an inflamed or irritated bursa becomes both difficult and painful.

Bursitis is most commonly caused by repetitive movement and / or excessive pressure or mechanical stress. Repetitive jobs or sports tend to be big factors in developing bursitis. Although bursitis can occur in dozens of places, the most common places to be diagnosed with bursitis include:

• Prepatellar bursitis:housemaid's knee


• Infrapatellar bursitis:clergyman's knee


• Trochantaric bursitis:causes hip pain


• Olecranon bursitis: characterized by pain and swelling in the elbow


• Subacromial bursitis:causes shoulder pain (see picture at top of page)

Traumatic injury is a less-common, but equally problematic cause of bursitis. And sometimes bursitis can even be caused by a systemic disease process such as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

IS IT BURSITIS OR SOMETHING ELSE?

It is my experience after two decades of practice, and 10 years of treating extensively via "Tissue Remodeling", that the vast majority of what doctors are diagnosing as bursitis, is not really bursitis at all. It is either a Fascial Adhesion or some sort of Tendinopathy (tendinosis).

If someone comes to me with the bony knob of their elbow (or their knee) swollen up like a tennis ball, Tissue Remodeling Treatment is not going to help. That is a true bursitis and will require some other sort of intervention (possibly acupuncture will help, but it may have to be drained). However, when someone is generically diagnosed with "bursitis" of the shoulder or hip, there is a strong possibility that they are being misdiagnosed. This is because the majority of bursitis diagnosis in these two areas are not really bursitis at all. As stated above, they are usually a tendinopathy (tendinosis) or a fascial adhesion. But don't take my word for it.

Read what Dr. Warren Hammer, board certified orthopedist and one of the world's foremost experts on Collagen-Based Connective Tissues such as ligaments, tendons, fascia, and muscles, with over 50 years of experience, has to say on the issue. Does he agree with my assessment of the situation? Pay attention as Dr. Hammer breaks down recent scientific research that was published in the medical journal, Joint, Bone, Spine; as well as the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

"It is interesting to note that the term, "periarthritis of the hip" has been changed to hip rotator cuff tears, to trochanteric tendino-bursitis. However, studies have shown that isolated hip bursitis is virtually non-existent. Although a bursitis may be present, the underlying causes are lesions of the overlying tendons....."

If you have been diagnosed with bursitis, but do not have significant visible swelling, I would strongly suggest trying just one of the Tissue Remodeling Treatments ---- I.I.R.E.C-B.C.T. (Instrument Induced Remodeling of the Elastic Collagen Based Connective Tissue). If your problem is in fact, tendon or fascia, you will see big changes in one or two treatments.

Visit Destroy Chronic Pain dot com and learn more about the Elastic, Collagen-Based Connective Tissues, and why so many problems in this area (including bursitis) are both misdiagnosed and mistreated.