What could be causing my elbow to ache?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Elbow pain has several possible causes, most commonly tendon inflammation (such as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow), joint inflammation from arthritis, or bursitis (swelling of the fluid-filled sac that cushions the joint). Nerve compression, sprains, and overuse injuries can also trigger discomfort.

Because these conditions share overlapping symptoms but require very different treatments, identifying the likely cause early can help you avoid unnecessary pain and prevent the issue from worsening. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you understand what may be behind your elbow pain and guide your next steps—whether that's home care, seeing a specialist, or urgent evaluation.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/15/2026

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Explanation

Elbow pain most commonly comes from overuse injuries. Repeating the same movement can strain and inflame the tendons around your elbow. This can lead to conditions like tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) or golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)—problems that cause pain in the outer or inner part of the elbow.

Arthritis or joint inflammation in the elbow can also cause aching. Additionally, nerve compression or bursitis (a swollen fluid-filled sac near the joint) may cause discomfort.

Take a break from activities that cause or worsen your pain. To better understand what might be causing your elbow discomfort, try our free AI symptom checker and then visit a healthcare provider who can evaluate your specific situation.

(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.
Gerdesmeyer L, Lampe R, Göbel M, Henne M, Burgkart R. Differenzialdiagnosen beim Ellenbogenschmerz. Denken Sie nicht nur an den Tennisarm [Leading symptom elbow pain. Differential diagnosis]. MMW Fortschr Med. 2003 Sep 25;145(39):32-6. German. PMID: 14649070.
Reece CL, Li D, SUSMARSKI ADAMJ. Medial Epicondylitis. [Updated 2024 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557869/

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