What is the difference between bursitis and arthritis?

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, the fluid-filled cushion around a joint, and tends to cause localised pain, swelling and tenderness over one area, often after overuse or pressure. Arthritis is inflammation of the joint itself, usually causing pain and stiffness within the joint and sometimes affecting several joints over a longer period. A doctor can tell them apart on examination and, if needed, with imaging or tests.

How long does bursitis take to heal?

Most cases of bursitis improve within a few weeks with rest, ice and avoiding the triggering activity. Recovery can take longer if the joint is used repetitively or the bursitis becomes chronic. If it is not improving, keeps returning or there are signs of infection, see a doctor.

What is septic bursitis and why is it serious?

Septic bursitis is when a bursa becomes infected, often after a nearby cut or graze. It causes a hot, red, very painful and swollen area, frequently with fever. Unlike ordinary bursitis it needs prompt medical treatment, usually antibiotics and sometimes drainage, so a hot, red, painful joint with fever should be assessed urgently.

Can I treat bursitis at home?

Mild bursitis can often be managed at home with rest, avoiding the triggering activity, applying ice, using padding to protect the joint and taking simple pain relief if suitable. However, if the joint is hot, red and very painful with fever, or symptoms do not improve or keep recurring, you should see a doctor rather than continuing self-care.

Will a steroid injection cure bursitis?

A corticosteroid injection can effectively reduce inflammation and pain in persistent, non-infected bursitis, but it is not always a permanent cure, especially if the underlying cause, such as repetitive pressure or overuse, continues. It is not used if infection is suspected. A doctor can advise whether an injection is appropriate alongside activity changes and physiotherapy.

Bursitis in Singapore: Causes & Treatment

Written & reviewed by the BestDoctors.sg editorial team · Last updated 3 Sep 2026 · General information, not medical advice

Quick answer. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, a small fluid-filled cushion near a joint, causing pain, swelling and tenderness, commonly at the knee, elbow, hip or shoulder. Most cases settle with rest, ice and simple measures, but a hot, red, very painful joint with fever may be an infected bursa and needs urgent care.

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In a medical emergency, or for severe or sudden symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting or stroke signs, call 995 immediately.

Bursitis is a common cause of joint pain and swelling in Singapore, often triggered by repetitive movement, prolonged pressure or a knock to a joint. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that cushions and reduces friction between bones, tendons and muscles around a joint, and when one becomes inflamed it can cause pain, swelling and tenderness. The knee, elbow, hip and shoulder are the most commonly affected sites.

Most bursitis is not serious and improves with rest, ice and simple treatment. This guide explains what bursitis is, what causes it, how doctors tell it apart from arthritis, and the treatment options available, including the important warning signs of an infected bursa that needs urgent attention.

At a glance

Common sites of bursitis and typical triggers
Site	Common name	Typical trigger
Knee	Housemaid's knee	Prolonged kneeling
Elbow	Student's elbow	Leaning on the elbow or a knock
Hip	Trochanteric bursitis	Overuse, running, prolonged lying on one side
Shoulder	Subacromial bursitis	Repetitive overhead movements
Heel or buttock	Other bursae	Pressure, prolonged sitting or footwear

What is bursitis?

Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, one of the small, fluid-filled sacs that sit between bones and the surrounding soft tissues such as tendons, muscles and skin. These bursae act as cushions, reducing friction as joints move. When a bursa becomes irritated or inflamed, it fills with extra fluid and the area becomes painful, swollen and tender.

Bursitis most often affects joints that are used repetitively or placed under pressure, such as the knee, elbow, hip and shoulder. It is common in people whose work or hobbies involve a lot of kneeling, leaning, lifting or repetitive overhead movement, all of which occur in everyday life and many jobs in Singapore. Most bursitis is short-lived and improves with rest, but it can become chronic with repeated strain, and occasionally a bursa becomes infected, which is more serious.

Symptoms & signs

Bursitis usually develops over days, around a single joint that is being overused or pressed. Typical symptoms include:

Aching or tenderness around the affected joint
Swelling, sometimes a soft, fluid-filled bump (for example over the kneecap or elbow tip)
Pain that worsens with movement or pressure on the area
Stiffness and reduced comfortable range of movement
Warmth or mild redness over the bursa in some cases

An important warning pattern is a bursa or joint that becomes hot, very red, intensely painful and swollen, particularly with fever, as this can indicate an infected (septic) bursa that needs urgent medical attention rather than simple home care.

Causes & risk factors

Bursitis is usually caused by irritation of a bursa from repeated or sustained stress, though it can also result from injury or infection. Common causes and risk factors include:

Repetitive movements, such as running, throwing or repeated overhead work
Prolonged pressure, such as frequent kneeling or leaning on the elbows
A direct knock or injury to a joint
Increasing age and wear and tear around joints
Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout
Infection entering a bursa, sometimes through a nearby cut or graze, causing septic bursitis

How it's diagnosed

A doctor can often diagnose bursitis by examining the painful joint, noting the swelling, tenderness and how movement affects the pain, and by asking about your activities, work and any recent injury. The pattern helps distinguish bursitis, which affects the cushioning sac, from arthritis, which affects the joint itself.

If the diagnosis is unclear or other problems are suspected, an ultrasound or X-ray may be used to look at the soft tissues and bones. Where there is concern about infection, a doctor may draw off (aspirate) some fluid from the bursa with a needle and send it to the laboratory to check for infection or, in some cases, gout crystals. This step is especially important if the bursa is hot, red and painful with fever.

Treatment options

Most bursitis settles with simple, conservative treatment over a few weeks. The usual approach is sometimes summarised as rest, ice, compression and elevation:

Rest and activity change: avoiding the movement or pressure that triggered it, and using cushioning or padding to protect the joint
Ice: applying a cold pack to reduce pain and swelling
Pain relief: simple painkillers or anti-inflammatory medication if suitable for you
Aspiration: draining excess fluid from a swollen bursa with a needle to relieve pressure and, if needed, test the fluid
Steroid injection: for persistent, non-infected bursitis, a corticosteroid injection can reduce inflammation
Treating infection: if the bursa is infected (septic bursitis), antibiotics are needed, and sometimes drainage
Physiotherapy: to restore movement and strengthen surrounding muscles and prevent recurrence

Costs depend on whether you are seen in a public or private setting and whether procedures such as aspiration or injection are needed, so there is no single figure to quote; your clinic can advise on consultation and procedure fees and any subsidies.

When to see a doctor & which specialist

See a doctor if joint pain and swelling do not improve with a week or two of rest and ice, keep coming back, or are severe enough to limit daily activities. Seek urgent medical care if a joint or bursa becomes hot, very red, intensely painful and swollen, especially with a fever or feeling unwell, as this can be an infected (septic) bursa or joint that needs prompt treatment. If you are severely unwell with a high fever and a hot, swollen joint, go to A&E or call 995.

For persistent, recurrent or severe bursitis, an orthopaedic specialist can assess the joint, arrange imaging or aspiration and plan treatment. You can find one through our directory of orthopaedic surgeons in Singapore.

Related guides

Sources

Last updated 23 June 2026. Prices are typical market ranges gathered from the cited sources and vary by clinic, doctor and individual case — they are not quotes. This guide is general information, not medical advice; always consult a qualified, MOH-accredited doctor before any treatment.

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