Your elbow moves in simple, but impactful ways. It lets you bend,
straighten, and rotate your forearm so you can hit your serve on the
tennis court, use hand tools with precision, and so much more.
Don’t let elbow pain hold you back. Learn about common causes,
symptoms, and how to find relief.
When your elbow hurts, it’s usually because one of the soft tissues in or around it is irritated, inflamed, or under stress. Think your tendons, your bursae (small, fluid-filled sacks that cushion your joints), and nerves.
The cause, more often than not, is over-use. Repeated motions may cause small tears, swelling, or compression over time, leading to a variety of repetitive stress disorders and symptoms, including a sharp twinge when you twist your wrist, a dull ache deep in the joint, a burning sensation down in your forearm or fingers, stiffness, or sudden pain when you grip or lift something.
Thankfully elbow pain is usually treatable, especially when you address it early. That makes talking to a doctor or chiropractor for elbow pain important when it’s severe or persists, so you can get back to doing the things you love.
Tennis elbow is when you feel pain or tenderness on the outside of your elbow, sometimes running down your forearm. It’s usually caused by repeating the same motion over and over, especially if it involves stretching your wrist backward or spreading your fingers.
Golfer’s elbow is when you feel pain or tenderness on the inside of your elbow, especially when gripping or bending the wrist. Like tennis elbow, it’s often caused by repetitive motions, but especially those that involve flexing your wrist or clenching your fingers.
Bursitis shows up as swelling or puffiness at the tip of your elbow. It happens when a small cushion that normally helps your elbow move smoothly (the bursa) gets irritated from leaning on it, bumping it, or overusing it.
This is the most common reason your elbow may start to ache. It happens when the tendons in your elbow get irritated from doing the same motion over and over, like gripping, typing, lifting, or twisting. That repeated strain creates tiny tears and inflammation that may make your elbow sore or tender, especially when you move your wrist or hand. Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both types of elbow tendonitis.
As you get older, the smooth cartilage inside your elbow often wears down, causing a type of arthritis called osteoarthritis. When that happens, your bones rub against each other and cause stiffness, swelling, and pain. Autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and lupus also sometimes cause painful inflammation in your elbow
At the tip of your elbow is the bursa, that tiny cushion that helps prevent friction when you move. When you lean on your elbow too much or, in rare cases, get an infection, your bursa may swell up and hurt. You’ll notice puffiness or a soft lump right at the back of the elbow, and it might feel sore to the touch.
Ever hit your “funny bone” and feel a zing down your arm? That’s your ulnar nerve. Sometimes it gets trapped or squeezed at the elbow when you put frequent pressure on or make repetitive movements, causing tingling, numbness, or aching. That’s called cubital tunnel syndrome. The same may happen to your radial nerve, which is called radial tunnel syndrome.
Injuries like sprains, strains, or small fractures may all lead to elbow joint pain. That may involve a sudden fall, a hard bump, or lifting something too heavy, which sometimes stretches or tears the muscles, ligaments, or tendons around the joint. Even if an elbow injury seems minor at first, it may get more painful over the next few days. Swelling and stiffness may also make it difficult to bend or straighten your arm. Some injuries (and their pain) may go away on their own with rest and at-home care, but if the pain doesn’t go away in a week or two, be sure to check in with a doctor.
11% of working adults aged 25-64 report experiencing elbow pain in a given week1
1+ hours of daily bending and straightening of the elbow increases your risk of tennis or golfer’s elbow1
1-3% of Americans are diagnosed with tennis elbow each year2
80-90% of people with tennis elbow recover within 1-2 years2
People who are 30-65 years old are usually the most likely to have tendon issues in their elbow. Starting in your 30s, tendons get a bit less elastic and more prone to wear and tear, especially if you’ve been doing repetitive motions for many years. Having to juggle work, family, daily chores, sports, and hobbies also results in a lot of elbow use (and strain) during this time of life.
When your job requires you to repeatedly grip, twist, lift, or use hand tools on a daily basis, it puts you at a higher risk for elbow pain. Think plumbers, painters, butchers, carpenters, cooks, and others. All those jobs require you to repeat certain motions again and again throughout the day, leading to strain.
Even though tennis and golf have their own “elbow” issues named after them, you may get elbow joint pain from any activity that involves repeatedly bending, straightening, twisting, or gripping with your wrist or forearm. That includes racket sports, throwing sports, weightlifting, baking, art, and more.
People who spend most of the day at a computer may develop elbow joint pain. Constant typing, mouse use, or leaning on your elbows puts repeated stress on the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to your elbow. Over time, that may cause inflammation or irritation, leading to the same kind of pain an athlete may get.
Anyone with weakened tendons are at a higher risk of elbow pain. Factors like smoking, being overweight, or taking certain medications may impact your tendon health by reducing blood flow, increasing inflammation, or slowing down tissue repair. None of those things guarantee you’ll get elbow pain, but they do raise your risk.
When you develop elbow pain, it’s often a sign you’ve been really devoting yourself to the activities you love or that make up your livelihood. When pain gets in the way of those activities, it’s frustrating. But relief from elbow pain is possible.
Elbow pain doesn’t have to keep you from doing the things you love. Many of the conditions that cause elbow pain respond well to rest, targeted therapy, and professional care, and catching them early gives you a leg up on getting back to your normal life.
Chiropractic care may be a great way to manage and relieve your elbow pain. Routine visits are an effective alternative to prescription or over-the-counter pain medications (OTCs), which are commonly prescribed to help patients manage their pain and swelling.
Licensed chiropractors like ours deliver a gentle, non-invasive therapy known as a chiropractic adjustment. Adjustments reduce the restriction or misalignment of joints in your joints to help reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and improve the function of your nervous system. This helps you better manage and potentially relieve the pain in your elbow, whatever the cause.
To help you find relief, chiropractors identify and address:
There are many potential health benefits of chiropractic care when you have elbow pain, including:
Walk in for quality, affordable care that fits your schedule. Enjoy hassle-free visits and same-day relief.
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
3555 Rosecrans St, Suite #110a
San Diego, CA 92110
Today: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Closed for Lunch: 2 PM - 2:45 PM
You don’t have to hit or sprain your elbow to feel pain there. Repeating the same motion too much, like typing, lifting, or even gardening, may strain the tendons or muscles around the joint. Pain may also come from arthritis, inflammation, or issues in your shoulder or neck, which may send pain down to your elbow.
The best treatment for elbow pain depends on what’s causing it, so step one is to talk to your doctor or chiropractor. They can help put together the best treatment plan for you. That said, simple at-home care may go a long way. That could include resting the joint, icing it, or avoiding the movements that make it hurt. Gentle stretching and strengthening exercises may also help your elbow heal and prevent future flare-ups.
Elbow tendonitis often brings a dull ache or burning pain around the area where the tendon attaches to bone (inside or outside of the elbow). The pain usually gets worse when you grasp things, lift, or twist your wrist. That part of your elbow may also feel tender to the touch, and you may notice some stiffness, especially in the morning or after resting.
Tennis elbow happens when you repeat the same wrist or arm movements (especially gripping, lifting, or twisting) to the point where it hurts the tendons on your outer elbow. It’s not just for tennis players, though. Painters, mechanics, office workers, and anyone who uses their hands a lot may develop it. Poor form, weak shoulder or wrist muscles, or sudden increases in use may also trigger it.
Try to mix things up! Don’t do the same movement for hours on end. Use proper form when lifting or doing sports, stretch and strengthen your arms and wrists regularly, and take breaks to rest. Most importantly, listen to your body and ease up when you feel discomfort before it turns into pain.
If you injure your elbow, have severe pain, swelling, or bruising, or are struggling to move your arm, you should go to the doctor. You should also see a doctor if your pain keeps getting worse or if your arm feels weak, tingly, or numb. Even a mild pain is worth a visit to the doctor if it sticks around after a week or two of at-home care.
Tennis elbow sometimes causes shoulder pain, but it does it indirectly. When your elbow hurts, you’ll sometimes change how you move or lift things without realizing, and that may put extra stress on your shoulder. Fixing the elbow pain often helps the shoulder feel better too, because you’re able to start moving more naturally again.
Carpal tunnel usually causes numbness, tingling, or pain in the wrist and hand, not the elbow. But because the median nerve (which is the one affected by carpal tunnel) runs through your arm, those sensations may sometimes travel up toward your elbow. If you’re feeling symptoms in both places, it’s smart to have a doctor check them both out to be sure it isn’t more than just carpal tunnel.
Managing pain with heat and ice is great for at-home care. If your elbow just started hurting or feels swollen, especially after a tendon injury, go with ice. It may help calm inflammation and dull pain. If your pain has been around for a while, go with heat. It may help ease pain by loosening tight muscles and improving blood flow.
The main difference is which side of the elbow is in pain: tennis elbow affects the outer side, while golfer’s elbow affects the inner side. Both are caused by repetitive movements like gripping, swinging, or twisting. That said, you’ll more likely get tennis elbow from motions that stretch your wrist backward or spread your fingers, and you’ll more likely get golfer’s elbow from motions that flex your wrist or clench your fingers. Both may also happen to anyone, not just athletes.
Relieving your stiff neck may take a combination of self care and help from a licensed chiropractor. A great way to start is by applying a heating pad or taking a warm shower to help loosen tight muscles. Once the muscles are warm, perform gentle stretches like slowly turning your head from side to side or tilting your ear toward your shoulder. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen may help reduce discomfort. But if your pain doesn’t go away within a few days, consider visiting a chiropractor.
Elbow pain is serious when you can’t move your elbow, it looks crooked or deformed, or there’s intense swelling, bruising, or sharp pain after an injury. Also take it seriously if pain doesn’t improve after a week or two of rest and self-care, or if numbness, tingling, or weakness develops in your hand or fingers. In those cases you should visit your doctor.
David, a golf instructor from Chicago, knows firsthand how much torque a golf swing puts on the body. That repeated stress may lead to pain and tension in the back, elbows, legs, and core, getting in the way of a good game. That’s why he started visiting The Joint Chiropractic, to keep his body moving freely for every tournament.
1 Walker-Bone, K., Palmer, K. T., Reading, I., Coggon, D., & Cooper, C. (2011). Occupation and epicondylitis: A population-based study. Rheumatology, 51(2), 305–310. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/ker228
2 Buchanan, B. K. (2023, August 4). Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow). ncbi.nml.nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431092/
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