Elbow Joint Pain
What is Elbow joint pain?
Elbow pain is a common problem and most elbow pain will resolve without needing specific treatment. Here you can find out more about how to treat it at home and when to seek further help.
Elbow pain is a term that relates to pain around the front, back and side of the elbow. It can sometimes refer down the arm and can also be associated with shoulder or neck pain.
Elbow pain may be related to sensitive tendons, muscles, bursa, or the elbow joint itself. It may be painful to bend or straighten the elbow, to carry or lift objects, or even to turn the forearm so that the palm faces up and down. It can feel stiff and swollen. However, elbow pain is rarely caused by damaged structures, unless there has been a traumatic injury.
Call 999 or go to A&E if:
- You’ve had a recent fall or injury, impacting the arm alongside bruising, a change in contours of the elbow, an inability to straighten the elbow or weight bear through the arm.
- The arm is swollen alongside a high temperature or you feel hot and shivery.
- Arm pain has come on suddenly and it occurs with pressure, heaviness or squeezing across your chest.
- The elbow is extremely painful and difficult to move.