Elbow pain is often caused by overuse or injury. Many sports, hobbies and jobs require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. Elbow pain can be the result of problems with bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments or joints. Elbow pain may occasionally be due to arthritis. But in general, your elbow joint is much less likely to have wear-and-tear damage than are many other joints.

Common causes of elbow pain include:

  1. Broken arm
  2. Bursitis (A condition in which small sacs that cushion the bones, tendons and muscles near joints become inflamed.)
  3. Cervical disc herniation
  4. Dislocated elbow
  5. Golfer's elbow
  6. Gout
  7. Osteoarthritis (The most common type of arthritis.)
  8. Osteochondritis dissecans
  9. Pseudogout
  10. Reactive arthritis
  11. Rheumatoid arthritis
  12. Septic arthritis
  13. Shoulder problems
  14. Sprains (Stretching or tearing of a tissue band called a ligament, which connects two bones together in a joint.)
  15. Stress fractures (Tiny cracks in a bone.)
  16. Tendinitis (A condition that happens when swelling called inflammation affects a tendon.)
  17. Tennis elbow
  18. Throwing injuries
  19. Trapped nerves

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

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April 29, 2023