Published on: 5/15/2025
Inner elbow pain when straightening your arm can occur from tendon overuse—as seen in golfer's elbow—or from nerve compression near the elbow.
Pain on the inside of your elbow when straightening your arm may indicate several conditions. The most common is golfer's elbow, which occurs when the tendons connecting your forearm muscles to the inner elbow become strained. This strain typically causes pain during arm movement, particularly when extending or twisting. Alternatively, you might be experiencing a pinched nerve, where a nerve near the elbow becomes compressed, leading to pain during elbow movement. Both conditions are common and can be triggered by repetitive motions especially in activities like sports, manual labor, or prolonged computer use. If your pain persists or worsens, consult a healthcare professional.
(References)
Naik AA, Bawa A, Arya A, Gulihar A. Nerve entrapment around elbow. J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021 May 27;19:209-215. doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2021.05.031. Erratum in: J Clin Orthop Trauma. 2021 Jul 30;20:101539. doi: 10.1016/j.jcot.2021.101539. PMID: 34150493; PMCID: PMC8190494.
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Golfer's elbow: Learn More – Golfer’s elbow: Strengthening and stretching exercises. [Updated 2022 Jul 15]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507006/
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