Lifestyle and home remedies

Measures you can take to relieve the pain of bursitis include:

• Rest and don't overuse the affected area.
• Apply ice to reduce swelling for the first 48 hours after symptoms occur.
• Apply dry or moist heat, such as a heating pad or taking a warm bath.
• Take an over-the-counter medication, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others), to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Some are available in a form you apply to the skin.
• Cushion your knees if you sleep on your side by placing a small pillow between your legs.