Pain

Self-care for bursitis

These painful flare-ups can occur suddenly and for no apparent reason. Here's what you can do about them.

629c1bf0-c355-4e5f-ab69-b5b3028e8369Have you ever woken up with a mysterious egg-shaped swelling on your elbow or knee and have no clue what caused it? There is a good chance you have bursitis.

"Bursitis is definitely more common as you get older and just comes with the territory of living a longer and more active life," says Dr. Robert Shmerling, senior faculty editor at Harvard Health Publishing and Corresponding Member of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

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