What Are Potential Causes of Constant Elbow Pain?

Reviewed by Tomas Diaz, MD

Emergency Medicine

Constant elbow pain can arise from overuse injuries, structural changes, or trauma affecting the elbow's muscles, tendons, and joint stability.

Explanation

Persistent elbow pain can occur for several reasons. Overuse is a common cause, occurring when the muscles and tendons around the elbow are strained repeatedly. This can lead to conditions like lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), where tendons become inflamed and painful. Injuries or trauma to the elbow can also cause pain—for instance, broken bones or torn ligaments may destabilize the joint. Other causes of ongoing pain include arthritis, nerve problems, and bursitis—an inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs in the joint. These conditions can limit elbow mobility and make everyday tasks difficult. Each underlying cause requires its own specific treatment approach.

(References)

Kane SF, Lynch JH, Taylor JC. Evaluation of elbow pain in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 15;89(8):649-57. PMID: 24784124.
Patiño JM, Corna AR, Michelini A, Abdon I, Ramos Vertiz AJ. Elbow Posterolateral Rotatory Instability due to Cubitus Varus and Overuse. Case Rep Orthop. 2018 Aug 5;2018:1491540. doi: 10.1155/2018/1491540. PMID: 30174974; PMCID: PMC6098894.
Jeon JY, Lee MH, Jeon IH, Chung HW, Lee SH, Shin MJ. Lateral epicondylitis: Associations of MR imaging and clinical assessments with treatment options in patients receiving conservative and arthroscopic managements. Eur Radiol. 2018 Mar;28(3):972-981. doi: 10.1007/s00330-017-5084-5. Epub 2017 Oct 12. PMID: 29027008.

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