PATIENT EDUCATION
Elbow Symptoms
Select the symptom that most closely describes what you are experiencing. The information below describes common causes and general guidance.
Select a symptom below to view more information.
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Pain over outer or inner elbow (tennis/golfer's elbow)
What you'll notice or feel
- You may feel pain on the outer side of your elbow (worse with gripping, twisting, or lifting with the palm down) or on the inner side (worse with gripping or bending the wrist forward).
- The pain may spread into your forearm.
- Everyday tasks like shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or lifting a cup can bring on the pain.
- Tenderness when you press directly over the bony point on the outer or inner elbow.
Common causes
- Repeated gripping, twisting, or wrist movements (racquet sports, screwdriving, manual work).
- Overuse of the forearm muscles that attach at the elbow.
- A sudden increase in an activity your arm isn't used to.
- Age-related wear of the tendon attachment.
What it could be
- Irritation of the tendon attaching on the outer elbow (tennis elbow / lateral epicondylitis) — the more common of the two.
- Irritation of the tendon attaching on the inner elbow (golfer's elbow / medial epicondylitis).
- Rarely, a nerve-related cause if pain is accompanied by numbness or tingling.
- Referred pain from the neck, in some cases.
Initial self-care
- Reduce or modify the gripping/twisting activity that provokes it.
- Ice over the tender area after activity.
- Gentle forearm stretching once acute pain settles.
- Over-the-counter pain relief if needed, as per the label.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Sudden, severe pain following a specific injury or fall onto the arm.
- Significant swelling, bruising, or visible deformity after an injury.
- You're unable to bend or straighten the elbow after an injury.
When to see a doctor
- Pain persists beyond 4–6 weeks despite rest and self-care.
- Pain is affecting your grip strength or daily/work tasks.
- It keeps recurring with the same activity.
Pain With Gripping or Lifting
What you'll notice or feel
- Pain that comes on specifically when gripping, carrying, or lifting objects.
- Weaker grip than usual on the affected side.
- Pain that may ease at rest but returns with the triggering activity.
- Discomfort that can be felt at the elbow, radiating into the forearm.
Common causes
- The same tendon irritation that causes tennis or golfer's elbow, aggravated specifically by grip.
- Forearm muscle overuse from repetitive lifting or manual work.
- Nerve irritation affecting grip strength, in some cases.
- Joint-related causes are less common at the elbow than tendon causes.
What it could be
- Tendon irritation at the outer or inner elbow (lateral or medial epicondylitis), the most common cause of grip-related elbow pain.
- A nerve being compressed near the elbow (such as the nerve running behind the inner elbow), affecting grip if it involves the hand muscles.
- Rarely, a joint problem inside the elbow itself.
Initial self-care
- Avoid the specific gripping motion that reproduces the pain where possible.
- A forearm support strap can sometimes reduce load on the irritated tendon during activity.
- Gentle strengthening once the acute pain has settled, rather than during a flare.
- Over-the-counter pain relief if needed, as per the label.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Grip weakness that comes on suddenly, especially after an injury.
- Weakness combined with numbness affecting the ring and little finger.
- Significant swelling or deformity after an injury.
When to see a doctor
- Grip pain persisting beyond a few weeks despite rest.
- It's affecting your ability to work or manage daily tasks.
Stiffness / Reduced Extension
What you'll notice or feel
- Difficulty fully straightening the elbow.
- A sense that the joint doesn't "lock out" the way it used to.
- Stiffness that may be more noticeable after rest, such as first thing in the morning.
- Reduced comfortable range when reaching for or carrying objects.
Common causes
- Bony or soft-tissue changes inside the joint following a previous injury.
- Age-related wear of the joint surface.
- Prolonged immobilisation, such as after a fracture or surgery.
- Small bone or cartilage fragments within the joint restricting full movement, in some cases.
What it could be
- Stiffness following a previous elbow fracture or dislocation.
- Wear of the elbow joint surface (elbow osteoarthritis) — less common here than at weight-bearing joints, but it does occur, especially after previous injury.
- A loose fragment of bone or cartilage within the joint (loose body) blocking full movement.
- Soft-tissue tightening around the joint without a specific injury.
Initial self-care
- Gentle range-of-motion exercises within a comfortable range.
- Avoid forcing the joint into a painful end-range position.
- Heat before stretching to ease tightness.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Sudden locking of the elbow where it won't move at all, especially with pain.
- Stiffness following a recent injury with significant swelling or deformity.
When to see a doctor
- Stiffness that is not improving over a few weeks.
- Stiffness clearly limiting work or daily tasks.
- A known previous elbow injury with new or worsening stiffness.
Swelling
What you'll notice or feel
- Visible puffiness, most often over the tip of the elbow.
- The swelling may be soft and fluctuate in size, or firmer and more fixed.
- Skin over the area may look shiny or feel warm.
- Swelling with or without significant pain.
Common causes
- Fluid build-up in the small cushioning sac at the tip of the elbow (olecranon bursitis), often from leaning on the elbow repeatedly.
- A direct blow or fall onto the elbow.
- Infection of the skin or the bursa, if the area is warm, red, and painful.
- An underlying joint condition affecting multiple joints, in some cases.
What it could be
- Swelling of the fluid-filled cushioning sac at the elbow tip (olecranon bursitis) — the most common cause of visible elbow swelling.
- Swelling following direct trauma to the elbow.
- An infected bursa or joint, which needs prompt treatment.
- Fluid within the joint itself from an underlying arthritic or inflammatory condition.
Initial self-care
- Avoid leaning on or further irritating the elbow tip.
- Ice application to reduce swelling.
- Over-the-counter pain relief if needed, as per the label.
- Keep the area clean if there is any break in the skin.
When to see a doctor urgently
- The area is red, warm, and increasingly painful, or you have fever — this can suggest infection.
- Swelling follows a significant fall or injury with severe pain.
- Swelling is rapidly increasing.
When to see a doctor
- Swelling persists beyond 1–2 weeks despite rest and ice.
- Swelling recurs repeatedly.
- Swelling is present without an obvious cause.
Numbness or Tingling in the Ring & Little Finger
What you'll notice or feel
- Pins-and-needles or numbness specifically in the ring and little fingers.
- Symptoms that may worsen with the elbow bent for long periods (talking on the phone, sleeping with the elbow flexed).
- A weaker grip, especially for fine tasks, in more advanced cases.
- Tenderness or a tingling sensation when you tap over the inner elbow.
Common causes
- Compression or irritation of the nerve that runs behind the inner elbow (ulnar nerve), often from prolonged elbow bending or leaning on the elbow.
- Direct pressure on the nerve from resting the elbow on a hard surface.
- Structural narrowing of the tunnel the nerve passes through, in some cases.
- A neck-related cause is possible but tends to follow a different finger pattern.
What it could be
- Compression of the nerve behind the inner elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome) — the classic cause of ring and little finger symptoms from the elbow.
- A neck-related nerve irritation, though this more typically follows a different distribution.
- Nerve compression further down, near the wrist, in less common patterns.
Initial self-care
- Avoid prolonged elbow bending — straighten the arm periodically, especially at night.
- Avoid leaning on the inner elbow.
- A soft wrap around the elbow at night can help some people avoid fully bending it during sleep.
- Gentle activity modification rather than complete rest.
When to see a doctor urgently
- Numbness combined with new hand weakness.
- Rapidly worsening numbness.
- Noticeable muscle wasting in the hand (visible thinning between the fingers).
When to see a doctor
- Symptoms persisting beyond a couple of weeks despite avoiding prolonged bending.
- Symptoms that keep recurring.
YOUR CONSULTATION
What to Expect at Your Visit
- The doctor will ask when your symptoms started, what specific movements or positions bring them on, and how they've progressed
- You'll be examined for elbow movement, tenderness over specific points, grip strength, and — if there's any numbness or tingling — sensation in the fingers and nerve-specific tests
- Your neck may also be checked, since neck-related nerve irritation can sometimes mimic elbow or forearm symptoms
- Imaging depends on what's suspected: an X-ray for the joint and bone, an ultrasound for tendon or bursa problems, or occasionally an MRI or nerve conduction study if a nerve-related cause is suspected
- Management ranges from activity modification, bracing, and physiotherapy to, less commonly, an injection or surgical opinion for cases not responding to conservative treatment or with significant nerve involvement
* IMPORTANT - A Note Before You Go
This page covers some of the more common reasons for elbow symptoms. It is not a complete list of everything that can affect the elbow and is not a substitute for a proper medical assessment.
Please do not use this information to diagnose yourself or decide your own treatment. If anything here concerns you, the appropriate next step is to have it assessed by a healthcare professional.