What might cause pain when straightening the elbow?

When you straighten your elbow and feel pain, several things might be happening. One possibility is inflammation in or around the elbow joint, like tendinitis, where the tendons are irritated by overuse or injury. Another cause can be arthritis, which makes the joint stiff and painful during movement. Sometimes, scar tissue or loose pieces of bone from a previous injury can cause the joint to become stiff so that when you try to straighten it, you feel pain. In some cases, pain is due to nerve compression. Elbow stiffness can develop over time, especially after an injury or surgery, and can make straightening the elbow uncomfortable. To better understand what might be causing your elbow pain, try our free AI symptom checker, which can help guide you toward the correct treatment like rest, physical therapy, or other methods to help reduce pain and improve movement.