Elbow (olecranon) Bursitis Treatment Overview

When to see a healthcare provicer

Contact a healthcare provider if your elbow bursitis symptoms—elbow pain and swelling—do not start to improve after 2–3 weeks of home treatments including rest, ice, anti-inflammatory pain relievers (ibuprofen), and reducing stress on your elbow.

Getting diagnosed

Elbow bursitis is typically diagnosed based on a physical exam, your symptoms, and your medical history. If you have symptoms of an infection or the diagnosis is not clear, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound. In rare cases, an MRI may be recommended to check for other conditions such as an elbow tumor or severe gout (calcium deposits in your joint). Your doctor may order a blood test to see if you have gout.

What to expect from your visit

• Your doctor will make sure you have bursitis and check for other conditions.
• They may recommend prescription anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs) if OTC NSAIDs like ibuprofen have not helped.
• An elbow brace or splint may be recommended to help reduce stress and inflammation in the joint.
• Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist, who can help you strengthen and improve your range of motion as you heal.
• It is not recommended to remove fluid from the bursa sac with a needle or to perform a cortisone injection as these procedures may lead to infection or create a hole in the bursa.
• If your doctor is concerned about the possibility of infection in the bursa, it is likely you will be prescribed oral antibiotics. In severe cases or cases that don’t respond to oral antibiotics, you may be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. In rare cases, surgical treatment of an infected elbow bursa may be required.

Prescription elbow bursitis medications

• Meloxicam (Mobic)
• Nabumetone (Relafen)
• Naproxen (Naprosyn)
• Ibuprofen (Motrin)
• Celecoxib (Celebrex)

Types of providers

• A primary care provider can treat mild to moderate symptoms.
• An orthopedic surgeon specializes in muscle, joint, and bone injuries.
• A physical therapist can do strengthening and stretching exercises.

How to treat elbow bursitis at home

Elbow bursitis symptoms like pain and swelling can be treated at home by changing your activities, applying ice, and taking OTC medications. These steps are aimed at reducing inflammation of the bursa sac within the elbow joint.

• Regular use of OTC anti-inflammatory pain relievers (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve), can reduce the pain and swelling. These work best if taken on a regular basis for 1–2 weeks.
• Applying ice to the elbow can help reduce the pain, swelling, and inflammation. Ice should be applied for 10–20 minutes, 2–3 times per day.
• Avoid repetitive bending and straightening of the elbow.
• Leaning or placing pressure on the elbow can also worsen symptoms or slow down the healing process.
• Wearing a brace on the arm can help to cushion sensitive areas and keep pressure off of the bursa sac, which gets inflamed.
• It may also be helpful to see a physical therapist to help strengthen and improve range of motion as you heal.

Elbow bursitis symptoms should start to improve in 2–3 weeks, and may take 6–12 weeks to completely go away.

OTC medications

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• Naproxen (Aleve)