What Could Be the Reason I Can't Bend My Elbow Without Pain?

Reviewed by Tomas Diaz, MD

Emergency Medicine

A stiff elbow—caused by injury or inflammation of the muscles, tendons, or the joint itself—may result in pain when bending your elbow.

Explanation

If you haven’t experienced a specific injury, pain when bending the elbow typically indicates joint stiffness. This stiffness can result from injuries, inflammatory conditions like tendinitis, or arthritis in the joint. Repetitive motions in sports or work activities may lead to overuse injuries, causing stiffness and pain. Conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow—which affect the tendons on either side of the elbow—can also cause pain and restrict joint mobility. If you cannot bend your elbow after a fall or injury, you may have a broken bone or dislocated joint. See a healthcare provider for an evaluation to determine the cause and get personalized advice on relieving pain and improving mobility.

(References)

Nandi S, Maschke S, Evans PJ, Lawton JN. The stiff elbow. Hand (N Y). 2009 Dec;4(4):368-79. doi: 10.1007/s11552-009-9181-z. Epub 2009 Apr 7. PMID: 19350328; PMCID: PMC2787214.
Amin NH, Kumar NS, Schickendantz MS. Medial epicondylitis: evaluation and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2015 Jun;23(6):348-55. doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-14-00145. PMID: 26001427.
Mittal R. Posttraumatic stiff elbow. Indian J Orthop. 2017 Jan-Feb;51(1):4-13. doi: 10.4103/0019-5413.197514. PMID: 28216745; PMCID: PMC5296847.

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