What To Know and Do About Elbow Joint Pain

Elbow joint pain can vary from mild to severe, affecting daily activities like dressing or holding a cup. The pain may be a dull ache or sharp shooting pain, making it difficult to move your arm.

Soft tissue and overuse injuries are the most common causes of elbow pain. Some pain goes away with home care. However, it's important to address persistent or severe pain with a healthcare provider to prevent possible complications.

Potential Causes of Elbow Joint Pain

Elbow joint pain can have various causes, including injury to muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, or bursae. It can also be a symptom of conditions like arthritis or nerve compression.

Here are some potential causes of elbow pain, from most to least common.

Soft Tissue Injury

Soft-tissue injuries are very common causes of elbow pain. These injuries include damage to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and blood vessels—for example, sprains, strains, and contusions (bruises). They can occur from a fall, a direct blow to the elbow, or forcefully twisting your arm. 

A sprain is when you stretch or tear ligaments, which connect bones at joints. The pain can be sharp and intense, especially right after the injury, and you may hear a popping sound when a sprain occurs. 

A strain occurs when you overuse or pull your muscles, causing tiny tears. Lifting heavy weights, repetitive motions, or using tools with a forceful grip can cause muscle strain. Symptoms include bruising, stiffness, swelling, and tenderness to touch.

Risk factors for sprains and strains include:

• Improper warm-ups before exercising
• Weight or resistance training
• High-impact sports (e.g., skateboarding, skiing)
• Muscle weakness

Tendinitis

Overuse injuries are other very common causes of elbow pain. They occur from repetitive wrist or elbow use or tightly gripping objects (like a screwdriver) for extended periods.

Tendinitis is an overuse injury that creates tiny tears in the tendons, which connect muscles to bones. Symptoms of tendinitis include:

• A dull ache that may go down the forearm
• Difficulty grasping
• Mild swelling 
• Pain that gets worse while holding a cup or with movement 
• Stiffness in the elbow joint, especially after resting
• Tenderness to touch

The two primary types of tendinitis that affect the elbow are: 

• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): Affects the outer elbow after using the forearm muscles too much. Pain often worsens with gripping or lifting objects 
• Medial epicondylitis (golfer's or pitcher's elbow): Affects the inner elbow. Pain often worsens with gripping or squeezing. 

Risk factors for elbow tendinitis include:

• Jobs in carpentry, plumbing, mechanics, or assembly lines
• Not warming up before activities 
• Tennis, golf, baseball, and rock climbing 

Bursitis

Bursitis is an overuse injury similar to a bruise inside your elbow. It occurs with swelling of the bursa—fluid-filled sacs that cushion bones, tendons, and muscles.

Bursitis is a common cause of elbow pain. Pain may worsen when you move or press on the fluid or with activity, often improving with rest. It might also be worse when you bend your elbow in a certain way but not when someone else moves it for you. Risk factors include: 

• Arthritis
• Autoimmune disorders (when the immune system attacks healthy cells, tissues, or organs by mistake)
• Infection or injury 
• Older age
• Prolonged pressure on bony areas (like resting elbows on desks)
• Repetitive movements and overuse 

Fractures or Dislocation

A fracture is a break in a bone due to a strong force, like a fall or a direct hit. Dislocations occur when the joint gets knocked out of place, usually from sudden impact or twisting motion.

Fractures and dislocations are less common causes of elbow pain. Symptoms include:

• Bruising 
• Elbow deformity (looks crooked or out of place)
• Inability to bend, straighten, or grip 
• Sudden, sharp, or throbbing pain that gets worse with movement
• Swelling

Risk factors include:

• Age (children and older adults are at higher risk)
• High-impact sports
• Osteoporosis (weakening of bones)

Arthritis

Arthritis is joint inflammation that causes pain, stiffness, swelling, redness, or warmth. It can sometimes cause elbow pain.

Osteoarthritis is the "wear and tear" type of arthritis that occurs over time. As the cartilage that cushions your joints gets worn down, bone rubs against bone. This can lead to a dull ache, especially in the morning or after activity. You might also hear a grinding or clicking sound when you move your elbow.

Risk factors include:

• Older age (especially over 50)
• Previous injuries
• Repetitive elbow use or stress 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of joints. It causes symptoms like pain, stiffness, swelling, and sometimes fever and fatigue. Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis often affects multiple joints, and the stiffness is usually worse in the mornings.

Other types of arthritis include:

• Juvenile arthritis: Inflammatory conditions that affect bones, muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments in children under the age of 16)
• Gout: Develops when uric crystals build up in your joints
• Septic arthritis: Rare, but occurs due to a severe bacterial infection

Nerve Compression

Nerve compression is another less common cause of elbow pain. Nerves carry messages from your brain to your arm. Nerve compression happens when something puts pressure on a nerve, blocking the messages to your brain. It's similar to pinching a water hose and the water flow slowing down or stopping. 

Nerve compression can occur in conditions like cubital tunnel syndrome, where the ulnar nerve (one of three main arm nerves, running from your neck to your hand) gets pinched inside the elbow joint. This area is often known as the “funny bone.” Other causes include:

• Bone growths from arthritis (narrows nerve spaces)
• Ganglion cysts (fluid-filled sacs near joints)
• Injury
• Nerve irritation in the neck or shoulder or other parts of the arm
• Neuropathy (damaged nerves)
• Repetitive motions 

Symptoms of nerve compression include:

• Burning or shooting pain
• Muscle shrinkage in severe cases
• Numbness in the hand or fingers
• Pain and tenderness at the inner elbow
• Tingling (pins and needles, similar to when your arm falls asleep)
• Weakness in the hand or trouble gripping things

Symptoms may worsen at night or when moving the elbow in specific ways, like bending it. Older people may notice ongoing problems that get worse, while younger people might have symptoms that start suddenly. Risk factors include repetitive elbow movement and diabetes—a condition that causes high blood sugar and increases the risk of nerve damage.

Other Causes 

Other possible causes of elbow joint pain include:

• An abnormal fold in elbow tissue
• A loose piece of bone or cartilage
• Bony spurs (abnormal bone growths, often near joints)
• Frozen shoulder or stiff joints 
• Elbow joint instability
• Joint inflammation 
• Post-burn contracture (tightening and shortening of scar tissue after a severe burn)
• Shingles
• Tricep tendinitis

When To See a Healthcare Provider

Here are some signs that your elbow pain warrants a visit with a healthcare provider:

• Gradual onset of pain (usually a sign of overuse)
• Mild swelling, redness, or bruising
• Pain that affects your daily activities
• Persistent pain that lasts for at least one week
• Worsening pain

The following symptoms require urgent care:

• Difficulty bending or straightening the elbow
• Fever
• Moderate swelling or bruising
• Sudden onset of moderate but not unbearable pain 

Seek emergency care for:

• Deformity or instability of the elbow (crooked or wobbly)
• Numbness, tingling, or severe weakness
• Severe pain, especially after a fall or injury
• Significant swelling, bruising, or redness

How Is Elbow Pain Diagnosed?

For elbow pain, you can see a primary care provider (PCP) or an orthopedic provider (a specialist in musculoskeletal conditions). The provider will ask about your symptoms, activity level, and medical history. They will examine your elbow for swelling, tenderness, range of motion, and nerve compression.

Depending on the suspected cause, the provider may recommend the following diagnostic tests.

• Blood tests to check for signs of infection or autoimmune conditions 
• Computed tomography (CT) scans for detailed images of bones and soft tissues
• Fluid aspiration (drawing out fluid from the swollen bursa)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess soft tissue damage like ligament tears
• Nerve conduction studies (non-invasive, uses electrodes to check for nerve damage)
• Ultrasound to visualize soft tissues such as tendons and ligaments 
• X-rays to check for fractures or arthritis

How Is Elbow Joint Pain Treated?

Depending on the cause and severity of elbow pain, management options range from self-care measures to medical interventions.

Home Remedies

Here are some practical tips to help reduce strain on your elbow and avoid activities that could make your pain worse:

• Avoid activities that worsen the pain or cause it to return
• Avoid fully straightening or bending your elbow
• Keep your elbow slightly bent when lifting heavy items
• Limit activities that involve repeated gripping or grasping
• Take breaks from repetitive hand and wrist motions
• Use a two-handed backhand in tennis
• Use both hands to hold heavy tools 
• Use padding on elbows (to help reduce bursitis)

Here are some at-home options to help reduce pain and swelling:

• Arnica pellets (homeopathic pain remedy) that dissolve under your tongue
• Compression bandage or brace
• Elevation (keeping your elbow above your heart)
• Ice packs wrapped in a towel for 15-20 minutes several times a day
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers like Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen), or Tylenol (acetaminophen)
• Topical (on the skin) arnica cream or patches
• Topical pain creams like Aspercreme (trolamine salicylate and lidocaine) 

Home Remedies

Medical treatments may include:

• Antibiotics
• Botox injections
  
• Local anesthetic (numbing injections)
  
• Platelet-rich plasma infusions (uses a person's own blood to help healing)
• Prescription anti-inflammatory medications or pain relievers
• Shockwave therapy (sound waves that increase blood flow)
• Steroid injections to reduce swelling
• Surgery for severe cases 
• Topical nitrates (help tendons heal by increasing blood flow)

Physical therapy and custom braces or splints can be very helpful in stabilizing and strengthening the affected area.

Your provider may also recommend alternative or complementary care like:

• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic care
• Herbal remedies (like turmeric or ginger) to reduce swelling
• Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health

A Quick Review

Elbow joint pain has various causes, including overuse injuries or conditions like arthritis. Rest, ice, and OTC pain relievers often help with minor, temporary conditions.

If pain persists, worsens, or disrupts daily life, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider so they can pinpoint the cause and customize treatment. For chronic pain, healthcare providers can create a plan combining self-care, medical treatments, and alternative therapies. Working closely with them can help you manage the pain, improve daily functioning, and prevent complications.