The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Alternating Heat/Ice Therapy
Posted by Javagenie (Central, Vt) on 05/11/2010
★★★★★
This cure worked for me and I hope I can help someone else. The method is called alternating heat/ice therapy. I suffered for 2 weeks with this awful pain in my right shoulder. I was finally told by a friend what it was. I had never even heard of bursitis before. He said he had it once and the dr gave him a shot of cortisone. After doing some research, I was not going to a Dr. for that. But, on the 3rd week, I could not rotate my shoulder enough to get dressed. I tried heat and cold packs. It hurt so much I was taking 800mg ibuprofen 6 times a day. That's every 4hrs. on the dot. It would wake me up at night when I needed another dose.
Finally i read about this alternating heat and cold therapy. Apparently there are a lot of different ways to do it. Basically, you place ice on the affected area for 10min. and then switch to heat for 5min. You keep alternating back and forth for an hour or even longer if you want. The idea is to create a pump within your joint/muscles. Cold pushes blood out and heat pulls it in. Allowing the infection inflmation to be pumped right out of the joint. This made sense to me. So, I got started.
I honestly didn't keep track of time... when it felt like it was aching from too much cold (5-10min.) I would swap to heat until it felt nice and relaxed. Then switch back to cold. Important thing to remember: always end with cold. You want to remove the inflamation at the end. I used ice packs wrapped in towels and an electric heating pad. I would do this for up to 2hrs a night watching tv or reading before bed. Every morning it felt better... so, I kept doing it. After 4-5days, my shoulder was almost completely healed. I had some minor pain when over extending the range of motion. Like reaching high above my head (eg. reaching for a dish on the top shelf). But, within a few days that was gone. I suffered miserably for 3 weeks... and in only a few days this relieved it. I'm sure it would've only taken 1 or 2 treatements to cure this if I started sooner. Anyway, It's been about a month, and no pain still.
Can you imagine how powerful this technique would be with the right herbal remedies? Combining this with a natural antibiotic/anti-inflamatory would be great. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to take so heat/ice was all i used.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Willie S. (Witbank Mpumalanga, South Africa) on 08/09/2017
★★★★★
I had Bursitis in my right elbow it was the size of a golf ball,
I drank 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in water.
Once in the morning and once before bedtime and in 10 days the ball under my elbow was gone. For the 10 days I was taking this mixture I did rub the ball under my elbow for 20 seconds twice a day. No oil was used.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Blackstrap Molasses, Baking Soda
Posted by Debi (Moreno Valley, California) on 06/20/2013
★★★★★
Bursitis and Heel Spurs: I started trying Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) & Blackstrap Molasses (BSM) (warm water, 1TB ACV + 1 ts BSM) and it was less than a week before my limping started getting better & hip stopped hurting 24/7. As usual I wasn't consistent and then I was also diagnosed with 2 heel spurs and after 2 weeks of that I got a gout attack in the other foot (2nd one in two years). I'm back on the ACV and the BSM + 1 ts of Baking Soda. I read that somewhere too. I do the ACV in the BS and let the foam die down, then add the BSM and then the very warm water. I actually am going to start doing one before bed too. I get up in the morning and do oil pulling first for 20-30 min, then the ACV/BSM, then a bit later I do 24 oz of water with lemon and ginger. I hope these details help. I wish when people post they'd just put how much and when they take what ever they take. Thanks to everyone for their sharing ;-)
Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Paul (Port Jefferson Station, Ny) on 07/20/2010
★★★★★
After being hit with my first and hopefully only bout of very painful hip Bursitis I came here for some advice. Tried the Milk of Magnesia 2 TBSP twice a day for 5 days and I was 90% better. In addition, seeing the post stating that when calcium is high magnesium is low and understanding the relationship Vitamin D also has with calcium I added (1) 2000 Unit vitamin D tab to my diet. I did nothing else and felt tremendous relief and was not about to go for Cortisone injections as suggested by others. When my Hip was about 95% better I felt some sharp pain in my knee causing me to limp again. I took another 2 doses of Milk of Magnesia, my knee feels much better, and my hip bursitis is GONE!!! Thank you.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Georgiana (USA)
★★★★★
My father had just retired. A very active man all his life, he found himself suffering with bursitis in the shoulder joints. After taking honey and cider vinegar twice am and eve. for approx two weeks he felt relief and better mobility. After 30 days he could do windmills with both arms. He was so grateful. Thanks for the site, love the generosity and sharing.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Denise Enright (Laguna Niguel, California /USA) on 01/24/2009
★★★★★
Hi, I too have discovered the health benefits of ACV( Organic's ACV - which you can find at most supermarkets). I take it for joint pain, and if I have an acid stomach- or feel bloated--yes, acid on acid nutrilizes. Also, to get to sleep I drink a cup about a 1/2 before bed and read a good book. I don't think you need to have the honey, unless you want it sweet or for a sore throat,or chest congestion- add lemon juice and honey. I take 2 TBSPS in in 8 to 12 oz of hot water and sip slowly-for best results. God Bless
Castor Oil
Posted by Meghan (Hanover) on 09/30/2017
★★★★★
I was diagnosed with bursitis in my knee years ago. I have fluid in my knee, too. Mostly it doesn't bother me, but when it does, I massage castor oil into my knee and that always seems to help. If it is really bad I use castor oil on a cloth with plastic wrap and a heating pad at night-time and always feel better by morning.
Milk of Magnesia
Posted by John (Siren, Wisconsin) on 09/20/2013
★★★★★
Bursitis: Milk of magnesia the best pain cure. I had painted 2 bedrooms and overdid it on my right elbow. The pain was excruciating. MOM took it way down in less than 8 hours. Thanks everyone for the great site and info.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kelley (Houston, Texas, Usa) on 06/16/2012
★★★★☆
I am new to the page, just wanted to say thank you so much that it exists, I have been in pain with hip bursitis for several years and can't take advil pain pills etc, and besides all it does is mask the pain, doesn't cure anything. It had gotten so bad that it would actually even wake me from sleep - Now on to the good part - I followed the advice on this page, got the apple cider vinegar, took a couple of table spoons before bed, also drank lots of water with the baking soda and lemon. Was in a lot of pain before I went to bed, but amazingly this morning I have very little bursitis pain (usually I wake up in an extreme amount of pain) although I do still have a lot of muscular pain, (this is the 1st day) I can't believe how quickly this has made a difference.
Milk of Magnesia
Posted by Bonnie (Venice, Louisiana/usa) on 09/17/2011
★★★★★
I tried the MOM because it was the easiest to obtain. I had immediate relief from hip bursitis from which I had suffered for a year or more. I had tried several things: light exercise and stretching (when I could), corisone shots, naproxan sodium, acetiminophen, rest... The MOM work immedately to relieve pain so I can returned to a better quality of life! Since I didn't need the laxative effect, I have had to cut back to 2 T. once a day, right after work. I am amazed at how well it works! Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Saysouda (Nashville, Tn) on 10/09/2009
★★★★★
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil for bursitis, joint pain.
I'm 36 yrs old and for 3 yrs I have bursitis on the should area and pain in my wrist. I decided after reading on earthclinic to give VCO a try. In one week I noticed the pain went away and I have more energy. It really really WORKS!
I take a 1 Tablespoon/day. Put in coffee, spread it on toast instead of butter, put some in my soup, add to my pasta sauce. I love the smell. I even use it as a cold cream to clean my face at night. I even give VCO to my dogs and cats and their coats are shiny and soft! I will continue to take this the rest of my life. I love VCO! Thank you earthclinic.
Castor Oil
Posted by K.C. (Portland, Oregon) on 06/25/2007
I had a calcified bursa on my right shoulder that had become so painful that, after six months of physical therapy, it was no better and I was scheduled for cortisone shots. I did not want them because of the immuno-suppressant tendency of cortisone. One night I had the impression to try a castor oil pack on it, just out of the blue. So I did. I wrapped my shoulder and underarm (after washing it) and left the pack on all night. In the morning the problem was 95% better. I did it four more nights and have not had the problem since. About five years now.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Brett (Hawaii) on 08/05/2021
No, in fact, vinegar is acidic, but metabolizes down to base compounds/elements. The reason vinegar helps with acid indigestion is because heartburn is often caused by too LOW of acid in the stomach (which inhibits gastric emptying)...by adding acid (vinegar, lemon juice, etc) the Ph of the stomach becomes more acidic and the pyloric valve can open and allow stomach to empty. Food too long in the stomach starts to become gaseous and puts pressure on the cardiac sphincter to the esophagus causing it to open and allow acidic fluid into the throat causing heartburn symptoms...basic A&P.
Magnesium Oil
Posted by Rose (Oregon) on 03/08/2019
★★★★★
Bursitis Pain:
Magnesium Oil (Magnesium Chloride Brine) rubbed deeply into my increasingly painful shoulder & upper arm for about 5-10 minutes, reduced incapacitating pain 90%! Thanks to all who posted your experiences with bursitis improving with magnesium!
I had no Milk of Magnesia, but realized the Magnesium Oil in my cupboard massaged directly where it hurt might work even quicker. Almost immediately I began to get pain relief, so I just kept spraying on more, and massaging it in (including under the arm) until the pain largely disappeared. I plan to keep doing this daily. (Had it not worked, I would have added a little DMSO, but that was not necessary.) Recent slight Charlie Horses should have been my wake up call that I needed Magnesium.
I'm thanking God, Earthclinic, and all of you who share your knowledge! I trust this works for others!
B Complex
Posted by Mjve04 (Beachside, Fl) on 08/04/2017
★★★★★
I've had bursitis in my hip (occasionally knee or shoulder) since I was 11 or 12. The one thing I've seen really help is a vitamin supplement. I get a sustained release Super B and take it daily as long as I do, I have no problems with the bursitis. If I run out or forget it for a few days, pain starts. Also, if I increase my activity level significantly, I need to increase the Super B for a few days.
Let me know if this helps. It's worked well for me for 50+ years.
Cold Laser Therapy
Posted by Colleen (Toronto, Canada) on 07/28/2020
★★★★★
I tried 3 sessions of the cold laser therapy on my hyperextended knee problem and it was cured from over 20 years of pain... they called it Theralase cold laser therapy and it worked for me...
Potato
Posted by Elaine (Oklahoma) on 09/29/2013
★★★★★
Years ago my dad had hip pain. He was a diesel mechanic and stood on his feet all day. He worked with an older man who told him, "The next time your wife goes to the store, have her to get you the smallest sweet potato she can find. Then stick it in you hip pocket. " My mom had me to search out a small potato and put in the basket. My dad did the pocket thing and he said he did get relief from his pain. A few weeks later he walked in the door from work and said, "Here, catch. " He tossed something at me and said, "What is that?" I caught it and looked closley at it. It didn't look like anything I had really seen before. I said, "A rock?" He said, "No, guess again. " I looked at some more and saw there were wrinkles in it, so I said, "A nut?" He said "No, give up?" I couldn't guess what it was and then he told me it was the sweet potato after being in his pocket for at least a month. That thing looked and felt like a river rock! My dad kept a sweet potato in his pocker for some time after that and after a while the pain in his hip disappeared AND he no longer had to go to the doctor to have his shoulder scraped with bursitis. Ted, care to speculate as to why this worked?
Sulfur Cream and Castor Oil
Posted by Wideawake (Chicago, Illinois, Us) on 12/10/2012
★★★★★
CURE ALL PAIN with 10% sulfur cream and castor oil. I suffered with bursitis for 4 years, I tried everything under the sun. This stops the pain immediately.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Stephen (Birzebbugia, Malta) on 05/18/2010
★★★★★
Bursitis cured with ACV. I am over 50 and had a bad fall, landed on my elbow. It swelled and thought it would go away, it didn't. Three months after I started putting ACV on it, and it remained the same.
Then I soaked a piece of cloth in ACV, kept it on the swell with an elbow support sleeve, almost day & night, and after one day it went down by 15%. I also was careful not to hit it again. On 2nd and 3rd day, down by 75%. That ugly swell has gone and hoping for a complete healing.
