What are the signs and symptoms of olecranon bursitis?
An athlete with an acute injury would experience rapid signs and symptoms (within minutes) whereas an athlete with a chronic bursitis may develop signs and symptoms of the injury over several weeks. The signs and symptoms include swelling directly over the tip of the elbow that may be mild, moderate or severe. The swelling may look something like a golf ball (mild swelling) or a tennis ball (moderate to severe) sitting on the tip of the elbow. Although the inflamed bursa may not be painful itself, the increased pressure from the swelling may cause pain as the athlete tries to flex (bend) and straighten (extend) his/her elbow. The danger in an olecranon bursitis is if the bursa becomes infected. If the bursa becomes infected, it is known as septic bursitis. This type of bursitis can actually be caused by an infection at another site (finger or hand) that travels up to the elbow. The signs and symptoms of a septic bursitis are different from a nonseptic bursitis and will be similar to th
