What are the primary causes of elbow joint pain?

Elbow joint pain can come from many different issues. One common cause is trauma. This can happen when someone falls on their arm or the elbow, leading to a fracture, dislocation, or ligament injury. When the elbow is injured, the bones or soft tissues may be damaged, causing pain. Another cause is repetitive stress. This happens when people use their arm in the same way over and over again. It might cause tendinitis (inflammation in the tendon) such as in tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. These conditions hurt because the tendon becomes inflammed from overuse or improper form. Arthritis is another reason the elbow might hurt. In arthritis, the joint can become swollen and painful over time because of wear and tear. Xrays are useful in evaluating arthritic changes to the joint. If you're experiencing elbow pain and want to better understand what might be causing it, try our free symptom checker to help identify potential causes. By knowing the exact cause of the pain through a careful exam and sometimes imaging tests, doctors can decide the best way to treat the discomfort.