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Elbow pain
By Mayo Clinic staffMayo Clinic Health Manager
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Definition
Your elbow is a complex joint formed by three long bones in your arm. Four sets of muscles help move the joint and are attached to the bones by thick tendons. Damage to any of these structures or to the joint's network of nerves, blood vessels and ligaments can lead to elbow pain.
Most elbow pain isn't serious, but because you use your elbow in so many ways, elbow pain can definitely affect your life. Most elbow pain improves with simple home treatments, however. If your elbow pain results from certain types of injuries, your doctor may recommend physical or occupational therapy to aid healing and help prevent future problems.
Causes
Most elbow pain results from overuse injuries. These may be sports-related or the result of activities and professions that require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. Elbow pain is sometimes due to arthritis, but in general, your elbow joint is much less prone to wear-and-tear damage than other joints are.
Common causes of elbow pain include:
- Cubital tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the ulnar nerve on the inside of your elbow is irritated or injured
- Dislocation
- Elbow fracture
- Golfer's elbow
- Ligament sprains and tears
- Little league elbow syndrome (pitcher's elbow) — an injury mainly affecting children and rapidly growing adolescents involved in throwing sports such as baseball
- Olecranon bursitis — inflammation of a small sac of fluid (olecranon bursa) on the tip of your elbow
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Radial tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the radial nerve becomes compressed just beyond your elbow (sometimes called resistant tennis elbow)
- Sprains and strains
- Tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
When to see a doctor
Seek emergency care if you have:
- An obvious deformity in your elbow
- A protruding bone
You're likely to need an X-ray or other imaging test if you have a dislocated or broken bone or your doctor suspects nerve damage.
Call your doctor right away if you have:
- Severe pain, swelling and bruising around the joint
- Trouble moving your elbow normally, using your arm or turning your arm from palm up to palm down and vice versa
Schedule an office visit if you have:
- Elbow pain that doesn't improve after a week or so of home care
- Pain that occurs even when you're not using your arm
- Increasing redness, swelling or pain in the injured area
Self-care
If you have an overuse injury that causes elbow pain, your doctor may recommend physical or occupational therapy in addition to the following measures:
- Protection. As much as possible, avoid using your injured arm.
- Rest. Give your elbow complete rest for two days, and avoid the activity that caused the injury for at least three weeks. If you have a fracture, you may need an air splint to help keep your elbow immobilized.
- Ice. Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
- Compression. Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
- Elevation. Keep your arm elevated to help reduce swelling.
