Elbow Pain
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Try one of these related symptoms.
My elbow hurts
Can't bend or extend my elbow properly because it hurts
Elbow broken or sprained
Pain in left elbow
Pain in right elbow
Elbow aches all the time
Elbow joint pain
Bending the elbow causes pain
Elbow pain when trying to sleep
Elbow pain that gets worse when twisting cloth
Turning doorknob causes elbow pain
Elbow aches when straightening
How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Elbow Pain quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- I have pain in both elbows
- Opening a door with a doorknob causes elbow to hurt
- Can't wring cloth or clothes because my elbow hurts
- Sleeping is difficult because my elbow hurts
- Hurts to bend arm (elbow)
- I can't bend or straighten my arm because of pain
- Elbow pain that gets worse when wringing a towel
- Elbow hurts even more when turning a doorknob
- Elbow throbbing through the night
- I feel pain at my elbow
- Elbow pain gets worse when turning a doorknob
- Straightening the elbow makes the pain worse
- Can't turn a doorknob because of elbow pain
- Wringing a towel causes my elbow to hurt
- Bending the elbow makes the pain worse
See full list
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizAbout the Symptom
This refers to pain or discomfort arising from any part of the elbow joint. It can be aching, sharp, dull, or pressing in nature.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Recent weight loss
- Numbness / sensory disorder
- Repeated fever above 38 ℃
- Swelling of the affected area
- Fever
Possible Causes
Generally, Elbow pain can be related to:
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a type of arthritis that occurs in children under 16 years old. It's a chronic condition characterized by joint pain and swelling that can last for months or years. It affects one or more joints for at least 6 weeks. JIA occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues The cause of JIA is unknown.
- Osteoarthritis (OA)
Wear and tear of the joint cartilage over time. Risk factors include repetitive joint movements and carrying heavy loads for many years.
- Sjogren Syndrome
An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the organs that produce tears and saliva, resulting in dry eyes and dry mouth. In some cases, internal organs can also be gradually affected. Disease severity is highly variable.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Congenital Hemophilia
- Adult Still's Disease
- Tenosynovitis
- Psoriatic Arthritis
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Elbow pain may be related to these serious diseases:
- Decompression Sickness
Decompression sickness (also called "the bends") refers to problems caused by a rapid decrease in surrounding pressure (either air or water). This causes gases to dangerously shift out of the bloodstream. It most commonly occurs during scuba diving when surfacing too quickly. Rarely, it can happen in airplanes, typically in military pilots traveling at high speeds through upper and lower atmosphere layers.
- Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have pain in your elbow?
- Does the elbow hurt when sleeping?
- Does your elbow pain worsen when you bend or straighten it?
- Does elbow pain worsen when wringing a towel?
- Does elbow pain worsen when turning a doorknob?
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizFind Similar Symptoms
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
References
Kane SF, Lynch JH, Taylor JC. Evaluation of elbow pain in adults. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Apr 15;89(8):649-57. PMID: 24784124.
https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2014/0415/p649.htmlArrigoni P, Cucchi D, Menon A, Randelli P. It's time to change perspective! New diagnostic tools for lateral elbow pain. Musculoskelet Surg. 2017 Dec;101(Suppl 2):175-179. doi: 10.1007/s12306-017-0486-8. Epub 2017 Aug 2. PMID: 28770509.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12306-017-0486-8Daniels SP, De Tolla JE, Azad A, Fritz J. Imaging Evaluation of Medial and Lateral Elbow Pain: Acute and Chronic Tendon Injuries of the Humeral Epicondyles. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2021 Aug;25(4):589-599. doi: 10.1055/s-0041-1731790. Epub 2021 Oct 27. PMID: 34706389.
https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0041-1731790Cohen-Rosenblum A, Bielski RJ. Elbow Pain After a Fall: Nursemaid's Elbow or Fracture? Pediatr Ann. 2016 Jun 1;45(6):e214-7. doi: 10.3928/00904481-20160506-01. PMID: 27294496.
https://journals.healio.com/doi/10.3928/00904481-20160506-01Descatha A, Despréaux T, Calfee RP, Evanoff B, Saint-Lary O. Progressive elbow pain. BMJ. 2016 Apr 5;353:i1391. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i1391. PMID: 27048479.
https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i1391
Reviewed By:
Kent C Doan, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr Doan Graduated from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and completed residency training in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Colorado. He completed additional fellowship training in Orthopedic Sports Medicine at the prestigious Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. He is a practicing Orthopedic Surgeon who specializes in complex and revision knee and shoulder surgery at the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute. He also holds an assistant professorship at the University of Kansas City.
Tomohiro Hamahata, MD (Orthopedics)
Dr. Hamahata graduated from the Jikei University of Medical Science. After working at Asanokawa General Hospital and Kosei Chuo Hospital, he joined the Department of Orthopedics at Asakusa Hospital in April 2021, specializing in general orthopedics and joint replacement surgery.
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(Sep 25, 2024)
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1