Bursitis—or joint inflammation—impacts 8.7 million people a year. Unlike other inflammatory conditions, bursitis is unnerving for many reasons. It impacts people of all ages, it poses acute and chronic health risks, and it can happen at any time.
The best way to combat bursitis is to learn about it. If you’re wondering what happens if bursitis is left untreated, you’re in the right place. Inflammation doesn’t always self-correct, which poses a concern for long-term health.
Bursitis often manifests in the shoulders, knees, or hips. Here’s how to know if you have bursitis of the shoulder and what to do about it.
What Happens If Bursitis Is Left Untreated?
Bursitis shoulder symptoms are hard to avoid. Inflammation can feel like a fire in the body—being in-flamed. Fluid-filled sacs in the bursae create unavoidable symptoms.
If you have the following ailments, you may suffer from shoulder bursitis symptoms.
- Aches or stiffness in joints
- Heat or swelling
- Redness
- Tenderness
- Shooting pains
- Fever
Bursitis can manifest through bacterial infections, aggressive procedures, or overuse. Some say it’s more likely with aging, but bursitis in the shoulders impacts athletes and youth too.
Once the body’s inflamed, it has to regulate. If the fluid’s trapped, however, it can spread in the body. To answer what happens if bursitis is left untreated, you may experience the following conditions.
- Long-term disability
- Musculoskeletal ailments
- Chronic pain
- Increased occurrences
The catch-22 of bursitis is that it can manifest from other chronic conditions as well as into chronic conditions. If you suffer from these pre-existing conditions, you may be susceptible to bursitis shoulder pain.
- Gout
- Autoimmune disorders
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Alcoholism
- HIV
- Diabetes
Untreated inflammation means more inflammation. Joints impact muscles, ligaments, and bones, so untreated ailments hurt the whole body.
Getting Beyond Bursitis
Since bursitis manifests as fluid in the joints, it’s considered a microtrauma in the body. Though it’s not a macro trauma, repeated microtrauma can have the same effect.
Smart protocol for tending to bursitis in the shoulder’s as follows:
- Rest
- Ice
- Anti-inflammatories
- Reducing mobility
- Elevation
While some doctors recommend antibiotics or steroids, there’s another option. Ayurvedic medicine combats inflammation in the body through holistic and sustainable methods.
Shoulder bursitis treatment can look like Ayurvedic herbs, detox, strategic massage, and lifestyle changes. To avoid future conditions, Ayurveda addresses all informants of your condition.
Though bursitis of the shoulder’s common, why you suffer from it’s personal. Ayurveda can replace Western medicine or be used alongside it, depending on your preferences. A professional opinion can help you craft an appropriate treatment plan.
Goodbye Bursitis
The message behind bursitis is hot and angry. Inflammation’s known to stop you in your tracks to reassess your life choices.
Instead of wondering what happens if bursitis is left untreated, make sure you don’t wind up with it! Being mindful of your daily movements can avoid unwanted situations.
How do you move throughout your every day? How can you move better for your body?
For more on health and wellness perspectives, check out our recent blog posts!