Published on: 5/15/2025
Pain that radiates from the elbow to the wrist can be caused by overused muscles and tendons (such as tennis elbow) or by nerve conditions (such as radial tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, or median nerve injury).
Elbow pain radiating to the wrist may be caused by several conditions that affect muscles, tendons, and nerves in the arm. Common causes include tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), radial tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and median nerve injuries. These conditions can affect either the muscles and tendons around the elbow or the nerves that run through the arm. The pain can vary in intensity and may be accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected arm. These symptoms often develop gradually over time, especially if they're related to repetitive motions or poor posture during activities. Some people might also experience stiffness in their elbow or difficulty gripping objects. While these conditions affect different parts of the arm, they share a common pattern: pain that begins in the elbow and radiates down to the wrist.
(References)
Moradi A, Ebrahimzadeh MH, Jupiter JB. Radial Tunnel Syndrome, Diagnostic and Treatment Dilemma. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2015 Jul;3(3):156-62. PMID: 26213698; PMCID: PMC4507067.
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