Elbow pain usually isn't serious, but because you use your elbow in so many ways, elbow pain can definitely affect your life. Your elbow is a complex joint that allows you to extend and flex your forearm and rotate your hand and forearm. Most movements are a combination of these actions, and you may sometimes find it difficult to describe what exactly brings on the pain.

Common causes of elbow pain include:

1. Broken arm
2. Bursitis
3. Cubital tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the ulnar nerve on the inside of your elbow is irritated or injured
4. Dislocated elbow
5. Dislocation
6. Elbow fracture
7. Golfer's elbow
8. Ligament sprains and tears
9. Little league elbow syndrome (pitcher's elbow) — an injury mainly affecting children and rapidly growing adolescents involved in throwing sports such as baseball
10. Olecranon bursitis — inflammation of a small sac of fluid (olecranon bursa) on the tip of your elbow
11. Osteoarthritis
12. Osteochondritis dissecans
13. Rheumatoid arthritis
14. Radial tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the radial nerve becomes compressed just beyond your elbow (sometimes called resistant tennis elbow)
15. Sprains and strains
16. Stress fractures
17. Tendinitis
18. Tennis elbow
19. Throwing injuries
20. Trapped nerves

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Source: mayoclinic.org

• An obvious deformity in your elbow
• A protruding bone

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Severe pain, swelling and bruising around the joint
• Trouble moving your elbow normally, using your arm or turning your arm from palm up to palm down and vice versa

Schedule an office visit if you have:

• Elbow pain that doesn't improve after several days of home care
• Pain that occurs even when you're not using your arm
• Increasing redness, swelling or pain in the injured area

Self-care
Most elbow pain improves with simple home treatments, such as:

• Rest. Avoid the activity that caused your injury.
• Ice. Place an ice pack on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
• Compression. Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
• Elevation. Keep your arm elevated to help reduce swelling.

Source: mayoclinic.org