Elbow Lump or Mass
An elbow lump is any bump, swelling, or mass you can see or feel at or around the elbow joint. Most are benign - a fluid-filled bursa, a fatty lipoma, or a nodule linked to gout or rheumatoid arthritis - and the way a lump feels, how quickly it appeared, and whether the skin over it is inflamed usually point to the cause. This guide explains what each type of elbow lump feels like, which ones settle on their own, and the features that mean it should be examined.
Last updated August 27, 2026
⚠️ Seek Urgent Medical Care For:
- Red, hot, or exquisitely tender swelling over the elbow
- Fever or chills alongside an elbow lump
- Red streaks spreading up the arm
- A lump that appeared immediately after a fall, with deformity
- Inability to straighten or bend the elbow
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hand
- An open wound or broken skin over the swelling
- A mass growing rapidly over days to weeks
Definition and Overview
The elbow has very little soft tissue padding, so anything that swells there becomes visible quickly. The bony point at the back is the olecranon, and a thin fluid-filled sac called the olecranon bursa sits directly over it to let the skin glide across the bone. That bursa is the single most common source of an elbow lump. Beneath and around it sit tendons, the joint capsule, small lymph nodes, and the ulnar nerve, which runs in a groove on the inner side of the elbow - the spot most people call the funny bone.
Three questions usually narrow the cause. Where is it? Directly over the bony tip suggests bursitis; on the inner or outer side suggests tendon or nerve involvement; in the soft flesh of the forearm just below the crease suggests a lipoma or cyst. How does it feel? Soft and squashy points to fluid or fat; firm and rubbery to a nodule; rock-hard and immobile to bone. How fast did it appear? Overnight after a knock suggests trauma or infection; over months suggests a benign growth.
Common Causes of Elbow Lumps
Fluid Collections
- Olecranon bursitis (student's elbow)
- Septic (infected) bursitis
- Ganglion cyst
- Joint effusion
- Haematoma after injury
- Synovial cyst
Inflammatory Nodules
- Gouty tophi
- Rheumatoid nodules
- Psoriatic arthritis nodules
- Granuloma annulare
- Calcinosis
- Tendinitis swelling
Soft Tissue Growths
- Lipoma (fatty lump)
- Sebaceous or epidermoid cyst
- Fibroma
- Neuroma
- Enlarged lymph node
- Abscess
Bone and Joint Causes
- Osteophytes (arthritic bone spurs)
- Osteochondroma
- Loose bodies in the joint
- Fracture callus after healing
- Heterotopic ossification
- Bone tumour (rare)
Telling the Common Elbow Lumps Apart
Olecranon Bursitis
A soft, mobile, often golf-ball-sized swelling sitting squarely on the bony point at the back of the elbow. It usually does not hurt much, and the elbow generally still bends and straightens normally because the joint itself is not involved. It follows prolonged leaning on hard surfaces, a direct blow, or repetitive pressure at work. Most cases settle with padding, avoiding pressure, and time.
Septic Bursitis
The same swelling, but the skin over it is red, hot, and painful to touch, and you may feel unwell or feverish. It often follows a scratch or graze over the elbow. This needs medical assessment - fluid may be drawn off for testing and antibiotics are usually required.
Gouty Tophi
Firm, chalky, sometimes yellowish-white lumps that develop over years in people with poorly controlled gout. They may occur alongside tophi at the ears, fingers, or big toe. Occasionally they break through the skin and discharge a white toothpaste-like material. Treating the underlying gout can shrink them over time.
Rheumatoid Nodules
Firm, rubbery, painless lumps that form over pressure points, classically on the extensor surface of the forearm just below the elbow. They occur in a minority of people with rheumatoid arthritis and usually appear alongside joint stiffness and swelling in the hands.
Lipoma
A soft, doughy, freely mobile lump under the skin that has usually been present for months or years and grows very slowly. Lipomas are harmless collections of fat cells and only need removing if they press on something or bother you cosmetically.
Lump With Numbness in the Hand
A swelling on the inner side of the elbow accompanied by tingling or numbness in the ring and little fingers suggests the ulnar nerve is being compressed in its groove - cubital tunnel syndrome. It deserves assessment because prolonged compression can cause lasting weakness in the hand.
Associated Symptoms
An elbow lump often appears with other symptoms that help point to the cause:
- Pain on movement: Suggests the joint or a tendon is involved
- Redness and warmth: Points to infection or acute inflammation
- Stiffness: Common with arthritis and joint effusion
- Arm stiffness or tightness: May accompany inflammatory causes
- Numbness or tingling in the hand: Suggests nerve compression
- Fever or feeling unwell: Raises concern for infection
- Lumps elsewhere: Points to gout, rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple lipomas
- Arm swelling: May extend beyond the elbow itself
When It's Serious
Warning Signs
- Rapid growth over days or weeks
- A mass larger than about 5 cm
- Hard consistency and fixed to deeper tissue
- Pain that wakes you at night
- Skin breakdown or ulceration over the lump
- Unexplained weight loss or night sweats
- Progressive weakness in the hand
- Any lump appearing after a significant injury
Diagnostic Approach
Medical Evaluation
- How long the lump has been present and how fast it grew
- History of injury, kneeling, or leaning on the elbow
- Personal or family history of gout or rheumatoid arthritis
- Examination of size, consistency, mobility, and tenderness
- Range of motion at the elbow
- Nerve testing for the ulnar nerve
Common Tests
- Ultrasound: Distinguishes fluid from solid tissue
- X-ray: Bone spurs, fractures, calcification, loose bodies
- MRI: Detailed soft tissue assessment when a mass is unclear
- Bursal aspiration: Fluid analysis for infection or urate crystals
- Blood tests: Inflammatory markers, urate level, rheumatoid factor
- Biopsy: Reserved for masses with concerning features
Home Care and Treatment
Self-Care Measures
- Stop leaning on the elbow
- Use an elbow pad at work or when driving
- Ice for 15-20 minutes several times a day
- Rest the arm from repetitive tasks
- Elevate the arm when swollen
- Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories
- Keep any broken skin clean and covered
- Do not squeeze or try to drain a lump yourself
Medical Treatments
- Aspiration of a swollen bursa
- Antibiotics for infected bursitis
- Corticosteroid injection in selected cases
- Urate-lowering therapy for gout
- Disease-modifying drugs for rheumatoid arthritis
- Surgical excision of a troublesome lipoma or cyst
- Bursectomy for recurrent bursitis
- Nerve decompression for cubital tunnel syndrome
Prevention
- Protect the elbow: Pads for kneeling, crawling, or desk work
- Change position often: Avoid resting on the elbow for long periods
- Treat gout properly: Keeping urate low prevents tophi forming
- Control inflammatory arthritis: Reduces nodule formation
- Clean cuts and grazes: Prevents bursal infection
- Warm up before racquet sports: Reduces tendon injury
- Vary repetitive tasks: Limits overuse swelling
- Get new lumps checked early: Small problems are easier to treat
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the soft lump on the back of my elbow?
A soft, squashy swelling right over the bony tip of the elbow is most often olecranon bursitis - fluid collecting in the bursa that cushions the joint, sometimes called student's elbow. It can appear after leaning on hard surfaces, a knock to the elbow, or repetitive pressure, and is often painless at first. If the skin over it becomes red, hot, and tender or you develop a fever, the bursa may be infected and needs prompt treatment.
What causes hard lumps on the elbow?
Hard, firm lumps around the elbow are usually gouty tophi (chalky urate deposits in people with long-standing gout), rheumatoid nodules (firm lumps that appear over pressure points in rheumatoid arthritis), or a bony outgrowth such as an osteophyte or osteochondroma. A hard lump fixed to the underlying bone that is growing steadily should always be imaged.
Is a lump on the elbow cancer?
Almost never. The great majority of elbow lumps are bursitis, lipomas, cysts, gouty tophi, or rheumatoid nodules. Soft-tissue sarcomas around the elbow are rare. The warning features are a mass larger than about 5 cm, one that is hard and fixed rather than moveable, one that grows noticeably over weeks, or one that causes pain at night or unexplained weight loss.
When should I see a doctor about an elbow lump?
See a doctor if the lump is red, hot, or painful, if you have a fever, if it is growing, if it feels hard and does not move, or if it limits how far you can straighten or bend the elbow. Numbness or tingling into the ring and little fingers suggests the ulnar nerve is being compressed and should be assessed. An elbow lump that appears after a fall may sit alongside a fracture.