If you are not sure what your injury is then why not try our Elbow Pain Symptom Checker.
The most common cause of elbow pain is tennis elbow which causes pain on the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow is an overuse injury which is more likely not caused by tennis but work activities or repetitive strain. We have treatment and rehab advice including tennis elbow exercises and advice on using a tennis elbow brace. Golfers elbow is similar to tennis elbow but causes pain on the inside of the elbow.
Pain in the arm including upper arm pain can be soft tissue such as a muscle strain or a broken arm is one of the more severe causes of arm pain include fractures of any of the three bones although the radius and ulna in the forearm are more commonly fractured.
We have information on a range of arm and elbow injuries with expert interviews, treatment and rehab advice. Use the tabs below to view common causes of elbow pain and elbow injuries as well as arm injuries and fractures.
Tennis elbow
One of the most common cause of pain in the elbow. Symptoms are pain on the outside of the elbow close to the bony attachment, weakness in the wrist and difficulty gripping things. We have advice on tennis elbow treatment, exercises, stretching and how a tennis elbow brace can help.
Golfers elbow
Golfers elbow is similar to tennis elbow but results in pain on the inside of the joint. It is usually an over use injury with symptoms coming on gradually. We look at golfers elbow in more detail examining the causes of elbow pain and treatment methods available.
Dislocated elbow
Dislocated elbow is a rare and traumatic injury causing sever elbow joint pain. Usually a result of a fall or direct blow perhaps in martial arts or a car accident and may also result in a fracture of one of the arm bones. There will be extreme pain with an obvious deformity, swelling and bruising. Immediate hospital treatment is required followed by a lengthy rehab period.
Pronator teres syndrome
Pronator teres syndrome is an entrapment of the median nerve, where is passes the Pronator Teres muscle itself. Symptoms include a tingling or numbness in the palm, thumb and three fingers with an aching sensation in the forearm. We examine the symptoms in more detail as well as the causes and treatment options available.
Median nerve injury
Compression or damage to the median nerve at the elbow may cause symptoms in the forearm and hand and fingers including tingling or numbness. Symptoms may also include inability to move the thumb across the palm, weakness when gripping and inability to turn the hand over or flex the wrist down. We examine this elbow injury in more detail with causes and treatment options.
Forearm splints
Forearm splints is similar to shin splints only in the wrist and a lot less common. It occurs in individuals that use their forearm muscles a lot including cricketers or baseball players. Symptoms include a dull pain in the forearm muscles which gets worse with activity and eases with rest as well as pain or weakness when extending the wrist back. We look in more detail at the symptoms, causes and treatment of this forearm pain.
Biceps contusion
Bruising and bleeding within the biceps muscle following an impact from a tackle, stick or ball. The muscle is crushed against the bone causing damage. Initial first aid with ice is essential. We look at an arm contusion in more detail explaining types, causes and treatment options available.
Triceps strain
A triceps strain is a tear of the triceps muscle at the back of the arm causing pain and sometimes swelling and bruising over the muscle. It can be a sudden onset injury where a sudden force stretches the muscles as in throwing. Or a mild version of this injury can be more sublte such as in overdoing the weight training exercises on the muscle.
Broken arm
A broken arm can be a fracture or break to the bone above the elbow or one of the bones below the elbow. We outline the various fractures which can happen to the bones in the arm including symptoms and treatment of a broken arm.
Humerus fracture
We look specifically at a break or fracture in the upper arm bone which is usually caused by a fall onto the hand. Symptoms include sudden pain in the upper arm, difficulty moving the arm with bruising or swelling. A deformity in the arm may be seen but not always if the bone is not displaced.
Supracondylar fracture
A supracondylar fracture of the humerus is a specific type of broken arm where the humerus fractures just above the elbow at the supracondylar ridge. It is most common in children following a fall onto an outstretched hand, where the elbow is forced straight. The injury is categorised 1,2 or 3 depending on how bad it is. We examine this arm fracture in more detail with treatment options.
Elbow Injuries
The elbow is a fairly stable joint and so traumatic injuries to the joint are not a common cause of elbow pain. Direct impacts and large forces may cause fractures or dislocations but these are not common injuries and require a lot of force.
Injuries to either of the supporting ligaments (medial ligament or lateral ligament) on either side of the joint may occur, usually when the forearm is forced in the opposite direction to the upper arm.
Overuse injuries are a far more common cause of elbow pain, especially tendinopathy conditions known as Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) and golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis). Tendinopathy of the biceps tendon can also occur, as can triceps tendinopathy.
Nerve injuries around the elbow acan occur as several nerves run very close to the surface and close to bony structures. Elbow pain can be caused when nerves are damaged either when a bone is fractured, or due to compression from an impact or muscle spasm. This will usually result in tingling or numbness in the hand and fingers.
Perhaps one of the most alarming elbow injuries is an olecranon bursitis which occurs after a direct impact to the back of the elbow. A large hard swelling can appear on the back of the elbow, sometimes as big as an egg! Whilst this looks serious, it is usually not a problem and will subside on it's own within a few days.
Elbow Anatomy
Understanding elbow anatomy can help in the understanding of elbow pain. The elbow joint connects the forearm and upper arm. It is made up of the distal (far) end of the Humerus (upper arm bone) and the proximal (near) ends of the forearm bones - the Radius and Ulna. The Ulna forms the largest part of the articulation. The elbow is a hinged joint which allows the arm to bend (flex) and straighten (extend). There is also an element of rotation which allows the hand to turn over, although technically this is coming from the joints between the Radius and Ulna in the forearm and wrist...more elbow anatomy.
