What Could Cause Severe Elbow Pain When Bending My Arm?

When you bend your arm, the muscles and tendons around your elbow are put to work. These tissues can become painful if they're overused or injured. With lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), the tendons on the outer side of your elbow become strained, causing painful movement. Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow) occurs on the inside of your elbow where the forearm tendons attach. When you bend your arm, these injured tendons stretch and may cause pain. Cubital tunnel syndrome is another possibility—this happens when the ulnar nerve inside your elbow gets compressed. Besides pain, you might feel tingling or numbness, particularly when bending your elbow or putting pressure on it. These conditions typically result from repetitive arm movements or overuse. If you experience severe or ongoing pain, consult a healthcare professional to consider all possible causes and get appropriate treatment.