It is not recommended to drain your elbow bursitis at home without doctor supervision and determining the cause of the bursitis. Using a syringe at home can increase the risk of introducing an infection. Another advantage of having a doctor drain the fluid is that they can send it to the lab for analysis.

When should elbow bursitis be drained?

Treatment of Infection of Elbow Bursitis

When bursitis involves infection, treatment becomes more urgent. Signs of infection include: Fevers, chills, and sweats. Redness around the bursa.

Does bursitis need to be drained?

Because a swollen bursa can press against other structures such as nerves and blood vessels, or may even rupture, the standard treatment is to drain it.