Why do I experience elbow pain when straightening my arm?

When you straighten your arm, the muscles and tendons around your elbow work hard. Sometimes, if these tendons get overused or strained, tiny tears or inflammation can occur. This overuse injury is often called lateral epicondylitis (or tennis elbow) when it affects the outside of the elbow, and medial epicondylitis (or golfer’s elbow) when it affects the inside. Both conditions can make the action of straightening your arm hurt because the involved tendons are under stress. In addition, a nerve problem like cubital tunnel syndrome, which happens when the ulnar nerve is squeezed at the elbow, can also cause pain or numbness during movements. Treatments often include resting the arm, icing the painful area, and doing gentle stretches or physical therapy exercises to help the tendons heal. If the pain doesn’t go away with home care, it’s important to talk to a doctor who can give advice based on your specific situation.