Elbow Pain

About 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.

• 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.

• Osteoarthritis (OA)

  Wear and tear of the joint cartilage over time. Risk factors include repetitive joint movements and carrying heavy loads for many years.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

• Congenital Hemophilia

• Tenosynovitis
• Adult Still's Disease
• Psoriatic Arthritis

Related serious diseases

Sometimes, Elbow pain may be related to these serious diseases:

• Elbow Dislocation / Nursemaid's Elbow

  A nursemaid’s elbow, or “pulled elbow,” occurs when the ligament that holds the radius in place at the elbow joint slips and the end of the radius shifts out of position. As a result, the elbow becomes partially dislocated. It is most common in toddlers and preschoolers between 2 to 5 years old, when the ligaments are still immature. It is rare in children older than 6 years whose bones are typically stronger and more mature and is temporary and does not cause permanent damage. Symptoms may include immediate pain in the injured arm and elbow, and sometimes pain in the wrist or shoulder, refusal or inability to move the injured arm, holding the arm still and straight at their side, possibly with the elbow slightly bent and the hand turned toward the body.

• Decompression Sickness

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?

Find Similar Symptoms

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.html

• Arrigoni 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/s12306-017-0486-8

• Daniels 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-0041-1731790

• Cohen-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/10.3928/00904481-20160506-01

• Descatha 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