1. Take Your Pain Medication
Don't neglect taking pain-relieving medication if you have bursitis, because there's no reason to be uncomfortable. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help you feel better. If you're having a particularly bad bout of bursitis, your doctor may prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to take the edge off. These drugs are more powerful than what you could get over the counter, and they reduce inflammation as well as relieve pain. You'll typically take your non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug one to two times a day, until the bursitis has calmed down.
2. Use Ice and Heat as Much as Possible
Ice is an excellent remedy for bursitis pain during the acute phase. As long as your affected joint is still inflamed and warm to the touch, apply ice packs to it several times a day. You can leave the ice packs on for up to 20 minutes each time you use them. Wrap a thin towel around the pack first, so the coldest part of it isn't directly touching your skin. The ice will cool off and soothe the inflammation, while providing pain relief. Once there's no more inflammation in your joint, you can start applying heat. Heat will soothe the area and relax the surrounding muscles. Like ice packs, you can use heat packs several times a day for up to 20 minutes at a time. However, don't use heat packs that are scalding to the touch, and if your heat pack feels too hot against your skin, wrap it in a towel or allow it to cool off a little before you use it.
3. Don't Use the Joint Unless You Have To
Using a joint that's experiencing bursitis will just irritate it more and prolong your healing process. Anything that puts pressure on a joint with bursitis is especially bad. Keep your affected joint at rest as much as possible. If the bursitis is in your foot, use crutches until it heals.
4. Elevate the Affected Joint Often
Keep your affected joint elevated as much as you can. Elevation helps reduce swelling and will make you more comfortable in the long run. If it's possible, elevate your joint above the level of your heart. If this isn't possible, then just elevate it as high as you can manage.
