Which doctor treats bursitis of the shoulder?
Bursitis of the shoulder is in principle an orthopedic problem. In the acute situation, the orthopedic surgeon can initiate initial measures in the form of immobilization, protection, tape bandages, cortisone injections and further treatment. A general practitioner can also often identify and treat incipient bursitis with the help of a physical examination and an ultrasound machine. Unclear findings rarely need to be clarified radiologically. An appointment with a radiologist is necessary for the diagnosis.
Causes
There are several causes for bursitis of the shoulder. On the one hand, small micro-traumas in the bursa can occur again and again, allowing bacteria to penetrate the bursa and cause inflammation there. The damaged bursa reacts to this with increased collagen and fluid production, which in turn leads to further functional limitations.
On the other hand, the impingement syndrome can be the trigger for bursitis. This leads to a constriction of the tendon of the supraspinatus muscle, which in turn leads to an irritation of the bursa directly adjacent to it. Among other things, the supraspinatus muscle is responsible for the external rotation of the arm.
Microcalcifications in the bursa in the shoulder joint can also occur, which cause new inflammations to form again and again. These microcalcifications are normal symptoms of old age, but they are more likely to cause bursitis in some people than in others. Furthermore, the formation of these deposits is triggered by inflammation, so that the risk of further bursitis increases with each inflammation.
In the context of chronic joint diseases, bursitis of the shoulder can also occur more frequently. Chronic joint diseases can include rheumatoid arthritis or gout, for example. These diseases cause changes in the joint, which means that the bursa can no longer optimally fulfill its function as a sliding layer. Due to the permanent irritation caused by additions and alterations to the joint, inflammation of the bursa in the shoulder then occurs. For the same reason, bursa inflammation can also occur more frequently in the context of arthrosis in the shoulder joint.
