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.

If your bursitis flare-up is just one more episode in a chronic problem, or if your pain is new but still bothering you after 48 hours of applying ice, you should alternate ice packs and moist heat.

In a traditional bursectomy a procedure is done at the elbow and the troublesome bursa is removed. Since the olecranon bursa is located just inside the skin, the treatment to remove it does not include procedure on any part of the elbow joint.