Prepatellar bursitis caused by an injury will normally go away on its own. The body will absorb the blood in the bursa over several weeks. If swelling in the bursa is causing a slow recovery, a needle may be inserted to drain the blood and speed up the process.
How long does prepatellar bursitis last?
Successful nonsurgical treatment of prepatellar bursitis may take 2 weeks or longer. If left untreated, chronic bursitis may last months or years.
What is the best treatment for prepatellar bursitis?
Nonsurgical treatment is usually effective as long as the bursa is simply inflamed and not infected:
- Activity modification. Avoid the activities that worsen symptoms. ...
- Ice. Apply ice at regular intervals 3 or 4 times a day for 20 minutes at a time. ...
- Elevation. ...
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
