This article marks the fourth entry in a series I've written on musculoskeletal disorders and how homeopathy can help people experiencing them. Recently, I've written articles on Homeopathy and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Degenerative Arthritis, and Gout. This article will cover the topics of tendinitis and bursitis. In it, I will define these conditions, discuss their etiology, describe basic signs and symptoms of them, and then suggest homeopathic remedies that may help people experiencing these two conditions.
Bursitis is defined as inflammation of the bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs found between muscles and tendons. A bursa sac's function is to reduce friction between surfaces of the body, and aid in facilitating movement.
Bursa sacs are typically found in areas of the body where large joints are located, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. These sacs of fluid can become inflamed, infected, or traumatized from overuse of the joint, continued or excessive friction of the joint, and from having systemic diseases such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, which can lead to an infection of the bursa sac.
Tendinitis is simply defined as an inflammation of a tendon. Tendons are connective tissues between muscles and bones in the body. Tendons, muscles, and bones all work together to create movement in your body.
Tendinitis usually occurs after prolonged use of using the tendon inappropriately. Usually, tendinitis is accompanied by bursitis in the joint. The joints typically affected by tendinitis are the shoulder, elbow ("tennis elbow"), wrist, and knee ("housemaid's knee"), but can happen in any tendon in the body.
Tendinitis and Bursitis have similar signs and symptoms:
Tenderness and pain when moving the affected part
Joint movement is limited (flexion and extension)
Fluid accumulation and swelling (edema) of the joint
Homeopathic treatment for people experiencing bursitis and tendinitis usually needs to be accompanied by changes in the exciting cause of the pain itself: incorrect training for sports movements, improper use or form during weight lifting, excessive use beyond comfort, etc. Otherwise, homeopathic treatment will do little to relieve the pain. In addition to proper mechanics in the body, adjunct therapies such as osteopathy, rolfing, and/or chiropractic can help aid in recovery for more chronic cases.
Homeopathy is very effective for people experiencing acute (short-term, sudden onset) tendinitis and bursitis, as well as chronic (long-standing). There are several homeopathic remedies that may be useful for these situations. They are listed below:
Bryonia: Pain accompanying the inflammation that is sharp or stitching, in nature. Every slight motion causes pain. Feels better from applying pressure to the joint and from heat.
Phytolacca: Pain and inflammation that exists at the site of attachment for the tendon to the bone. This pain feels worse from heat, and better from cold applications.
Rhus Toxicodendron: Pain and stiffness that arises from overuse. The pain is better from continued motion, from hot bathing, or from heat. When the person gets moving, they feel compelled to keep moving and desire stretching the joint. Affects the left sided joints of the body more than the right.
Please note this list is not comprehensive. For specific and individualized care, please consult a qualified homeopath.
In this article I described the nature of bursitis and tendinitis, their etiology, their signs and symptoms, and homeopathic remedies that can help people experiencing these conditions.
Thanks for reading! Please contact me for further information.
Sincerely,
Noel Peterson
