Bursitis - housemaid's knee
Bursitis is where a bursa becomes swollen and inflamed. A bursa is a small, fluid-filled sac that forms under the skin, usually over the joints and between tendons and bones.
Bursitis causes pain, inflammation and tenderness in the affected body part.
Bursitis can be caused by an injury, an infection, or it can be the result of a pre-existing health condition that causes the bursa to become inflamed.
Your GP will usually be able to make a confident diagnosis of bursitis by carrying out a physical examination of the affected body part.
Most cases of bursitis can be successfully treated using a combination of self-care techniques and over-the-counter painkillers.
There are a number of commonsense precautions you can take to prevent getting bursitis.