6/29/11 10:38:13 AM The Bone and Joint Decade is a global campaign to improve conditions musculoskeletal with people for life of quality the and to advance understanding treatment of those conditions through research, prevention and education. part of our continuing education programme for all people with arthritis. ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION Registered Nonprofit Organisation - No. 002-847 NPO Helpline No: 0861 30 30 30 This information leaflet is published Arthritis by Foundation the as and RELATED and RELATED CONDITIONS BURSITIS, TENDINITIS THE CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME NATIONAL OFFICE Bloemfontein Branch 709 Tulbagh Centre PO Box 20269, Willows 9320 ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION Hans Strijdom Avenue Cell: 082 921 4234 Registered Non-profit organisation number 002 847 NPO Cape Town 8001 Fax: (051) 447-0451 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/ANNUAL RENEWAL FORM PO Box 6775 E-mail: [email protected] Roggebaai 8012 Eastern Cape Branch Please tick relevant boxes: Tel: (021) 425-2344 PO Box 7740 New application Renewal Fax: (021) 421-7330 Newton Park 6055 Website: http//www.arthritis.org.za Individual membership R 100 International membership R300 Tel: (041) 365-1419 E-mail: [email protected] Corporate membership R5 000 Other R Cell: 082 576 0382 National Helpline: 0861 30 30 30 Donation R Total R E-mail: [email protected] (For details of Associate membership (individuals joining through the community outreach programme. Johannesburg Branch Western Cape Branch Please contact your local branch). PO Box 87360, Houghton 2041 705 Tulbagh Centre My payment is made by: Tel: (011) 726-7498 Hans Strijdom Avenue Fax: (011) 726-7493 Crossed cheque Debit my Credit Card Expires Cape Town 8001 E-mail: [email protected] Electronic Payment to: Card number, on front of Credit Card PO Box 6775 Standard Bank on _________ Date Soweto COPE Roggebaai 8012 Branch Code: 02090900 Plus card verification code (last 3 digits at BACK of your card) Tel: (011) 982-6315 Tel: (021) 425-4759 Account No.: 070965226 Fax: (021) 421-7330 Signature: _____________________ Pretoria Branch E-mail: [email protected] Contact Details: Title (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Professor, other: _____________ PO Box 145, Surname: ______________________________ First Names _____________________________________ Menlyn 0063 Kwazulu-Natal Branch Preferred form of address for corespondence ie. Dear ___________________________________________ Cell: 073 580 4199 POSTNET # 309 Tel: (012) 998-7203 P/B X04, Dalbridge 4014 Home Address (number, name of dwelling, street, suburb, city/town/district, postal code: _______________ Fax: 086 695 7117 Tel/Fax: (031) 539-5094 _______________________________________________________________________________________ E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Postal Address (if different): ________________________________________________________________ - National Helpline 0861-30-30-30 Anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to After a period of rest graduated exercise must Ice cubes rolled in a towel and applied to the Rest is beneficial for up to 48 hours, and keeping keeping and hours, 48 to up for beneficial is Rest reduce inflammation and pain. may also help. be started to keep the joints moving freely. splint, worn at night, will pain of the help carpal tunnel. to relieve the daily times 4 - 3 areaminutes painful 20 - 15 for the arm in a sling may be very helpful. A wrist ed for resistant problems at the shoulder, elbow or for the carpal tunnel. In some cases cortisone drugs may be injected into the area of inflammation. The cortisone acts locally so there is little danger of serious side effects. Local cortisone acts very quickly. Surgery is rarely need 4. 3. 2. Treatment of Bursitis / tendinitis 1. hand improves the symptoms. In advanced cases muscles the of weakness and wasting be may there at the base of the thumb. the thumb, index and half Pain, of numbness the middle and finger. tingling in index finger disturbs sleep. Shaking the or rubbing the thumb and The median nerve passes through a fibrous tunnel (the carpal tunnel) on its way from the forearm to the hand. The median nerve supplies sensation to and midfoot. Walking is painful taken offuntil the heel. pressure is The carpal tunnel syndrome or inflammation of the connecting tissues between the heel bone (calcaneus) and the tissue of the fore Bursitis leaflet ENG.indd 1 What do these mean ? Unaccustomed repetitive use of the shoulder (par- produce pain over these two prominences which A bursa is a closed sac-like structure which allows ticularly in older individuals), such as painting a may be very disabling. The pain of the outside two tissues to glide freely over one another. Common wall, may cause part of the rotator cuff to become prominence is called a lateral epincondylitis or bursal sacs are at the tip of the elbow, at the shoul- inflamed, and whenever this inflamed area is tennis elbow, while the other is called a medial der, at the patella (knee-cap). Bursitis means inflam- moved it produces pain which (unexpectedly) is epicondylitis or golfer’s elbow. mation of the bursal sac. felt at the mid upper arm, and not at the shoulder. The common movements which cause pain are 3. Hand Tendons are specialised extensions of muscles raising the hand above the shoulder or turning the The flexor tendons which bend the fingers may which attach muscles to bones. Tendinitis is inflam- arm to put on a coat. Sleep is disturbed when lying become inflamed, or a small nodule (lump) may mation of a tendon. An enthesis is the point of on the affected side, particularly if both sides are form in one or more tendons. These lumps may attachment of a ligament or tendon to bone. affected. In some there may be calcium crystals in cause the tendon to stick as it slides in its sheath. Inflammation at this point is called an enthesopa- the rotator cuff (seen on X-Ray of the shoulder) thy. which may start an attack. This is usually very The finger will remain bent until it has been severe and any movement causes intense pain. straightened by applying pressure to the finger, or What causes bursitis/tendinitis ? by massaging the palm of the hand over the lump. One of the complications of tendinitis of the shoul- Repeated, particularly unaccustomed, use is one This is called a trigger finger. In others the tendons der (frozen shoulder, when the movements are cause. Gout, rheumatoid arthritis and infection are of the thumb become inflamed (such as pruning, ‘frozen’ and may cause pain and stiffness) is that common causes of bursitis. Some specific bursal typing, etc.). This produces pain at the base of the the hand, on the same or opposite side, may start to problems have common names such as house- thumb or a lump may be felt over the radius (the swell for some obscure reason and become stiff. maid’s knee, weaver’s bottom, clergyman’s knee, forearm bone above the thumb). The skin becomes very sensitive and turns a purple- which emphasises the role of repeated use of white colour. With time (usually more than 18 certain parts of the body in causing inflammation. 4. Hip months) the shoulder movements will return, but if An inflammation of the bursa between the tendons the hand is not treated promptly the fingers may Tendinitis or an enthesopathy may be caused of the buttock muscles and trochanter (the promi- remain permanently bent. by repeated or over-use. Some less common nent part of the thigh bone on the outside of the causes are rheumatoid arthritis and infections. The hip). This may be very troublesome and cause The frozen shoulder also occurs in patients after a entheses are frequently affected in ankylosing anxiety about possible arthritis of the hip. Lying on stroke, in some people who have Parkinson’s spondylitis. the affected side may disturb sleep. disease and in diabetics. What are the symptoms of bursitis / tendinitis ? Inflammation of the bursa lying over the ischium The rotator cuff may rupture following use, this (the bone in the buttock) will cause difficulty in sit- The main symptom is pain which may vary from a causes pain and difficulty in raising the arm to a ting. mild ache to quite severe pain which limits move- horizontal position. ment. A characteristic feature is pain which dis- 5. Knee turbs sleep especially when lying on the affected The biceps tendon (the biceps muscle lies in front of side. the humerus) may also be injured; this is called a Several bursal sacs around the knee may become bicipital tendinitis. inflamed. One over the knee cap is called prepatel- Some common types of bursitus / tendinitis lar bursitis (housemaid’s knee), one just below the 1. Shoulder 2. Elbow knee cap is called infrapatellar bursitis (clergy- man’s knee) and on the inside of the knee the The shoulder is a joint which allows very complex The lower end of the humerus above the elbow joint anserine bursa may swell and cause pain, but it movement, and the tendons and the shoulder has two prominences, one on the inside and the does not cause pain when the knee is bent. bursa are commonly injured. Some of the tendons other on the outside of the elbow. All the muscles which permit rotational movements are arranged which move the fingers and wrist are attached to 6. Ankle as a cuff around the humerus (upper arm bone). these prominences (the muscles which bend the This is called the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is fingers and wrist come from the inside prominence, The commonest tendon problem of the ankle is separated from the acromion (the bony promi- and those which straighten the fingers and wrist inflammation of the achilles tendon behind the nence at the tip of the shoulder) by a bursa called come from the outside prominence).