What Causes Elbow Pain?

Broken Bone

A broken bone can lead to pain in the elbow. Depending on the injury, patients might also experience pain in their hand, wrist, and shoulder, as well as the rest of their arm. Three bones comprise the arm: the humerus, radius, and ulna. Falling onto an outstretched hand is a very common cause of broken bones. If individuals suspect they have broken a bone, they should get medical treatment as soon as possible. It's important to assess and treat the break to make sure it heals properly. Simple breaks are often treated with rest, ice, and an immobilizing sling. Some simple breaks need to be realigned in the emergency room so they don't heal wrong, and more complicated breaks might need surgery to align the bones and make sure they stay in place while they heal. Broken arms tend to cause swelling, bruising, severe pain, and a lack of movement in the joints. The pain might get worse with movement.

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Tendinitis

Tendinitis is a condition where the tendons, the thick, fibrous, and flexible bands of tissue that connect the muscles around the body to the corresponding bones, become inflamed and swollen. Tendinitis in the elbow can be caused by overuse of the joint like repeating certain motions too often or by overload when a certain level of activity in the joint is increased too rapidly. In rare cases, tendinitis in the elbow can be caused by certain infections like gonorrhea. Two different types of tendonitis can affect the elbow: medial epicondylitis and lateral epicondylitis. Medial epicondylitis causes an individual to feel pain in the inner side of their elbow and may be referred to as golfer's elbow. Lateral epicondylitis causes pain on the outside of their elbow and is commonly referred to as tennis elbow.

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