Elbow Conditions

About the Elbow:

Elbow pain is very common. Although elbow pain can very painful, there is rarely a serious cause for the pain. For lots of people that experience elbow pain, the pain will usually settle on its own within 6-12 weeks. This page will guide you to manage your recovery from elbow pain and also advise when to seek help.

If your elbow pain has been ongoing for longer than 3 months, you may find further useful information in the Persistent Pain section.
If your pain or reduced function is due to elbow osteoarthritis you may find useful information in the Osteoarthritis section.

Key Facts about the Elbow

The elbow is made of 3 bones including: the humerus (upper arm bone), and the radius and ulna (the bones of the forearm)
Many people get elbow pain without any actual damage to the joint
Noises such as creaking and clicking are quite common in people without elbow pain and rarely indicate damage or harm
X-rays and scans often are NOT needed to find the cause of your elbow pain (see below)
Graded movement and exercise in most cases is NOT harmful to your elbow and will actually HELP your pain by making the elbow stronger and more mobile
There are lots of things you can do by yourself to help you manage your elbow pain (see below)

Common causes of Elbow pain

A number of different factors can contribute to the start of elbow pain. These include:

An injury or trauma to the elbow affecting muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons
A sudden change in your activity levels or an increase in repetitive movements – this can include things like repetitively using a hammer or screwdriver or taking up a new sport such as tennis or golf
An irritation to a nerve
Conditions such as fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis
A period of life changes such as: increased stress, low mood, poor sleep, increased fear or worry
General lifestyle factors such as smoking and/or not maintaining a healthy weight or diet