Hello, every second week the bursa sac in my elbow that is meant to keep the joint lubed from what I read is swelling .I spend probably 4 days a week on the water with 2 to 3 hour sessions catching waves . There isn't that much pain but my elbow is starting to look like a nut sack and the wife hates it ! What worries me the most is that it may cause long term damage and kill the one thing that keeps me sane supping but I can't find any proof on Doctor Google . So I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this just thought I would put it out there . Thanks K ps I have seen a doctor and he says ice 3 times a day which I do but it never stops the sack from forming 
I had it happen once in my right elbow. Blew up the size of a couple of golf balls.
After icing for a while it went away and never came back.
If I was you I would just be happy that you get that much water time. 
ET. 
Hey Krist. A bursa is a thin film (should be as thick as a piece of paper usually), but as you note, they can get swollen (bursitis). Not so much their job to lubricate the joint - more to prevent tendons rubbing / generating friction over underlying bones. Think of a rope going over the corner of a building that someone is abseiling down. If the rope just sits over the edge of the building it will eventually fray and snap - so chuck something under that edge that is smooth and lets the rope glide - that's what a bursa is and what they are for! Now despite your elbow skin resembling ball sack skin - and your elbow looking a bit like a coco NUT, icing will help to a degree so keep going with that. Did your GP discuss anti inflamms with you? I'd suggest if your GP didn't head to your chemist and discuss if you're safe to take nurofen or voltaren or etc etc - they can be bad with heart medications or for people with stomach issues - so ask your pharmcist before taking them. Is it dead smack bang on the back of your elbow?? If it is - google " Olecranon bursitis " and see if that fits. The worst thing is direct pressure i.e leaning on a table on your elbow or pressure on your elbow - so get rid of anything that is doing that. There are 10000 more things to do but i'd also suggest keeping your triceps loose with some self massage.
Very true ET and thankyou Carter for explaining it a little better to me , maybe a little warm up will help and yes it's just the back
