Elbow Pain
Elbow pain affects millions, from athletes with tennis elbow to office workers with repetitive strain injuries. This complex joint allows both bending and rotation, making it vulnerable to overuse, trauma, and degenerative conditions. Understanding the location and nature of your elbow pain helps identify whether you're dealing with tendonitis, nerve compression, arthritis, or other conditions requiring specific treatment approaches.
⚠️ Seek Immediate Medical Care For:
- Elbow pain after fall or direct trauma
- Visible deformity or bone protruding
- Inability to move or straighten elbow
- Severe pain with swelling and bruising
- Signs of infection (fever, red streaks, warmth)
- Numbness or tingling in hand/fingers
- Loss of pulse in wrist
- Pale or blue hand/fingers
- Sudden severe pain with popping sensation
Understanding Elbow Pain
The elbow is a hinge joint formed by three bones: the humerus (upper arm), radius, and ulna (forearm bones). This joint is stabilized by ligaments and moved by muscles and tendons that cross the joint. Pain can originate from any of these structures, as well as from nerves that pass through the elbow region.
Elbow pain patterns provide diagnostic clues: lateral (outside) pain often indicates tennis elbow, medial (inside) pain suggests golfer's elbow, while posterior (back) pain may involve the olecranon bursa. The elbow's proximity to major nerves means that some elbow pain actually originates from nerve compression or irritation.
Common Causes
Overuse Injuries
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Biceps tendinitis
- Triceps tendinitis
- Repetitive strain injury
- Pitcher's elbow
Traumatic Injuries
- Elbow fractures
- Elbow dislocation
- Ligament sprains
- Muscle strains
- Contusions (bruising)
- Hyperextension injury
Nerve Conditions
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Radial tunnel syndrome
- Ulnar nerve entrapment
- Pronator syndrome
- Cervical radiculopathy
- Peripheral neuropathy
Joint Conditions
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Pseudogout
- Septic arthritis
- Osteochondritis dissecans
Pain Location Guide
Lateral (Outside) Elbow Pain
- Tennis elbow most common
- Radial tunnel syndrome
- Lateral ligament injury
- Radiocapitellar arthritis
Medial (Inside) Elbow Pain
- Golfer's elbow
- Ulnar nerve compression
- MCL injury
- Medial epicondyle fracture
Posterior (Back) Elbow Pain
- Olecranon bursitis
- Triceps tendinitis
- Olecranon fracture
- Posterior impingement
Anterior (Front) Elbow Pain
- Biceps tendinitis
- Brachialis strain
- Anterior capsule strain
- Pronator syndrome
Associated Symptoms
Elbow pain often occurs with:
- Weakness: Difficulty gripping or lifting
- Stiffness: Limited range of motion
- Swelling: Joint effusion or soft tissue edema
- Numbness/tingling: Nerve involvement
- Clicking/popping: Joint instability
- Warmth: Inflammation or infection
- Locking: Loose bodies in joint
- Night pain: Inflammatory conditions
Risk Factors
- Repetitive motions: Work or sports activities
- Age: 30-50 years for overuse injuries
- Sports: Tennis, golf, baseball, weightlifting
- Occupations: Plumbers, painters, carpenters
- Poor technique: Improper form in activities
- Previous injury: Increases future risk
- Systemic conditions: Diabetes, thyroid disease
- Smoking: Impairs healing
Medical Evaluation
Physical Examination
- Inspection for swelling or deformity
- Palpation of specific structures
- Range of motion testing
- Strength assessment
- Special provocative tests
- Neurological examination
Diagnostic Tests
- X-rays: Fractures, arthritis
- MRI: Soft tissue detail
- Ultrasound: Dynamic tendon evaluation
- EMG/NCS: Nerve function
- CT scan: Complex fractures
- Blood tests: Inflammatory markers
Treatment Options
Conservative Treatment
- Rest and activity modification
- Ice therapy (acute injury)
- Compression and elevation
- NSAIDs for pain and inflammation
- Physical therapy
- Bracing or strapping
- Ergonomic modifications
- Stretching and strengthening
Medical Interventions
- Corticosteroid injections
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
- Hyaluronic acid injections
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
- Dry needling
- Prescription medications
- Nerve blocks
- Surgery (when conservative fails)
Self-Care Strategies
- RICE protocol: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- Gentle stretching: Wrist flexor/extensor stretches
- Strengthening: Eccentric exercises when appropriate
- Ergonomics: Proper desk and tool setup
- Technique: Correct form in sports/activities
- Warm-up: Before activities
- Gradual progression: Avoid sudden activity increases
- Equipment: Proper grip size, weight
Prevention
- Proper technique: Learn correct form
- Gradual training: Build intensity slowly
- Regular breaks: From repetitive activities
- Strengthening: Maintain muscle balance
- Flexibility: Regular stretching routine
- Equipment maintenance: Replace worn gear
- Cross-training: Vary activities
- Listen to body: Rest when pain develops