Lump on the elbow: possible Post traumatic elbow bursitis .

Dear Ask The Doctor: I fell today hitting my elbow on the ground (i was wearing a jacket). I remember lightly pinching the area but when i came home about 15 mins later i looked at the area and i found a lump. There is some amount of pain too. Please tell me what should i do?

Dear Freddy: Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa caused by repetitive use, trauma, infection, or systemic inflammatory disease. Bursae are flattened sacs that serve as a protective buffer between bones and overlapping muscles (deep bursae) or between bones and tendons/skin (superficial bursae). These synovial-lined sacs are filled with minimal amounts of fluid to facilitate movement during muscle contraction. Superficial bursae, such as the olecranon(elbow) and prepatellar bursae(knee), are located in the subcutaneous tissue. Symptoms of bursitis may include localized tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or reduced /limited movement. The suggested strategy in the case that you can actively move the elbow and you have no significant swelling or deformity would be: you must apply ice to the elbow 4 to 6 times during this first 24 hours for periods no more than 15 minutes each time to avoid more swelling, and also ease the pain, if you have any; also taking Advil every 8 hours for the first 3 days and then 1 or 2 times a day as needed. After the first 24 hours from the fall, you will start applying on your elbow warm and wet compresses for periods of no more than 15 minutes each time, 2-3 times a day, also you can do series of active movements of flexion and extension of the elbow.