Why Is My Elbow Always So Sore?

Overuse is one of the most common causes of an unexplained achy elbow. While most cases of elbow pain resolve with a few lifestyle adjustments, certain causes require treatment. 

Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center has you covered with a team of skilled orthopedic specialists, including our hand, wrist, and elbow specialists. An elbow evaluation, which includes medical history, physical exam, and in some cases imaging, helps diagnose your elbow pain. 

Based on the diagnosis, our team creates a comprehensive treatment plan to relieve your elbow pain and improve its function. 

Elbow basics

The elbow is a complex joint made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It’s a hinge-type synovial joint that allows you to flex and extend your arm. At the elbow joint, three bones — the humerus in the upper arm, and ulna and radius in the lower arm — come together.

Thanks to the elbow joint, you can bring your arm toward your body (flexion), straighten your arm out (extension), and turn your palms up toward the ceiling or down facing the floor. These motions are essential to common daily arm movements.  

What causes elbow pain?

Elbow pain has various causes, including fractures and dislocations. The only way to know what’s behind your achy elbow is to have your elbow evaluated. Some of the most common causes of elbow pain are tendinitis, bursitis, and arthritis. 

Tendinitis (tennis elbow)

Overuse is a common cause of elbow pain, and you don’t have to be a tennis player for this injury to strike. Repetitive use of the arm and wrist can trigger inflammation in the tendons that connect the elbow joint. 

People who regularly engage in repetitive arm or gripping motions, such as knitters or musicians, are more prone to developing elbow tendinitis. 

Bursitis

Bursa is a fluid-filled sac that cushions and protects your joints. The olecranon bursa surrounds and protects your elbow joint. Bursitis occurs when the bursa becomes irritated and inflamed, causing swelling and elbow pain. 

People who play sports such as tennis, golf, and basketball, as well as carpenters, painters, and gardeners, are at an increased risk of bursitis. 

Both tendinitis and bursitis result from overuse, and the pain tends to have a gradual onset. 

Arthritis

Arthritis can affect any joint, including the elbow. Osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis RA) are the most common types of arthritis that affect the elbow. 

RA affects the joint lining (synovium), causing it to swell and narrow. Over time, RA gradually destroys the joint.

Osteoarthritis affects the cartilage that cushions the ends of the bones. As the cartilage wears away, the bones rub together, causing pain and stiffness. 

Elbow pain diagnosis and treatment 

During your physical exam, your Nevada Orthopedic and Spine Center provider evaluates your range of motion and looks for tenderness and swelling. Imaging can reveal dislocations, fractures, and issues in the joint space. 

Some conditions may need surgery to improve. Our team specializes in surgical and nonsurgical treatment. If you have a repetitive-use injury, you may just need time to heal. In some cases, tendons and ligaments can take months to heal. 

Don’t ignore nagging joint pain. Untreated joint issues can progress and lead to more serious problems down the road. If you’re experiencing elbow pain that doesn’t resolve within a few weeks, contact the team at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center for an evaluation. We have clinics in Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada.