9 causes and treatments for inner elbow pain

Your elbow is a complex joint that plays an essential role in your daily life. It’s where your upper arm bone, the humerus, meets your forearm bones, the radius and ulna. Your elbow is a hinge-like joint that enables you to bend, straighten and rotate your arm. This makes your elbow crucial for doing activities like writing, typing, throwing and lifting. 

When inner elbow pain strikes, it can be quite bothersome and limit your ability to do everyday tasks. Pain felt on the inside of your elbow can be due to several potential culprits, each with similar and unique symptoms. There is hope to be found with each of these conditions. They can usually be managed with conservative treatments, including physical therapy.

Common symptoms of inner elbow pain

Inner elbow pain can manifest in a variety of ways. Some common symptoms include:

• Dull or aching pain on the inside of the elbow
• Tenderness to the touch
• Numbness or tingling in the ring or pinky finger
• Difficulty gripping or holding objects
• Weakness in the forearm or hand
• Pain that worsens with certain activities, like gripping, twisting or lifting

Potential causes of inner elbow pain

There are several conditions that can be behind your inner elbow pain, including the following:

• Medial epicondylitis — Medial epicondylitis, also known as golfer’s elbow, is one of the most frequent causes of inner elbow pain. It occurs when the tendons in the forearm that attach to the bony prominence of the inside of the elbow become inflamed and irritated from overuse. It can be common in people who play golf, tennis, or baseball or do strength training. People in jobs that require wrist-twisting movements, like painting, construction and computer work, can also be susceptible. Symptoms of golfer’s elbow can include:

• Pain that runs from the inside of the forearm to the wrist
• Discomfort when flexing the wrist or shaking hands
• Weak hand grasp
• Numbness and tingling from the elbow down through the pinky and ring fingers

 

• Biceps tendinitis — Biceps tendinitis is caused by the inflammation of the tendon connecting the biceps muscle to the elbow. This inflammation can cause pain on the inside of the elbow joint. Symptoms can include:

• Tenderness in the front of the elbow
• Pain when lifting objects
• Weakness in the biceps

 

• Cubital tunnel syndrome — Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the ulnar nerve, which runs along the inner side of the elbow, becomes compressed or irritated. Symptoms can include:

• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the ring or pinky fingers
• Pain in the inner elbow
• Shooting pain up the arm

• Ulnar collateral ligament sprain — An ulnar collateral ligament sprain involves damage to the ligament on the inside of the elbow. Symptoms can include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Instability in the elbow joint

 

• Osteochondritis dissecans — Osteochondritis dissecans is a less common issue where a piece of bone and cartilage separates from the end of the bone. Symptoms of osteochondritis dissecans can include:

• Inner elbow pain
• Stiffness
• Locking
• Giving way of the joint

 

• Ulnohumeral arthritis — Ulnohumeral arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joint between the upper arm bone and the lower arm bone. Symptoms can include:

• Deep, aching pain in the elbow
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Range of motion decrease

 

• Elbow avulsion fracture — With an elbow avulsion fracture, a piece of bone breaks off where a tendon attaches to the bone. Symptoms of an elbow avulsion fracture can include:

• Sudden and severe pain
• Swelling
• Difficulty moving the elbow

• Tendon rupture — A complete tear of a tendon in the elbow can cause:

• Severe pain
• Weakness
• Inability to use the arm|

• Olecranon bursitis — Olecranon bursitis happens when the small, fluid-filled sac (called the bursa) at the tip of the elbow becomes inflamed. Symptoms of olecranon bursitis can include:

• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Redness at the elbow

When to see a health care provider

If your inner elbow pain lingers or gets worse, it’s essential to consult a health care provider. They can accurately diagnose the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment. You should seek medical attention if you experience:

• Severe pain
• Swelling
• Redness
• Numbness or weakness that doesn’t improve
• Inability to straighten or bend your elbow
• Locking or popping sensation in your elbow

Treatment options for inner elbow pain

Treatment for inner elbow pain can depend on the underlying cause. Treatment approaches can include:

• Rest — Avoiding activities that aggravate the inner elbow pain can allow your elbow time to heal.

• Cold therapy — Applying ice packs to the elbow can reduce swelling and pain.

• Medications — Taking over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help alleviate pain and inflammation.

• Braces or supports — Wearing a brace can provide support and reduce stress on the elbow.

• Physical therapy — Exercises and stretches can help strengthen the muscles around your elbow, improve flexibility and reduce pain.

• Corticosteroid injections — In certain cases, your health care provider may recommend corticosteroid injections to temporarily reduce inflammation and pain.

• Surgery — In severe cases, surgery may be needed to repair damaged tendons or ligaments.

Physical therapy techniques for inner elbow pain

Physical therapy can be an effective treatment for inner elbow pain. Your physical therapist will create a personalized plan based on your specific condition and severity of symptoms. Common physical therapy techniques include:

• Range-of-motion exercises — These exercises involve gentle movements that can help you maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness in your elbow joint. Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises that gradually increase your range of motion, such as bending and straightening your elbow, rotating your forearm, and moving your wrist up and down.

• Strengthening exercises — Building strength in your forearm, wrist and shoulder is crucial to help support your elbow joint and reduce strain. Your physical therapist will prescribe exercises targeting specific muscle groups. For example, you may do wrist curls, forearm extensions and shoulder shrugs to improve strength and stability.

• Stretching exercises — Lengthening the tight muscles in your forearm, wrist and elbow can help alleviate pain and improve flexibility. Your physical therapist will teach you stretches for the muscles involved in elbow movement, such as the wrist flexors and extensors and the forearm muscles.

• Electrical stimulation — Electrical stimulation involves your physical therapist placing electrodes around the affected area of your elbow. These electrodes deliver low-level electrical currents that help stimulate the muscles and nerves of your elbow. It can help reduce pain, muscle spasms and inflammation. The intensity of the low-level currents can be adjusted as needed.

• Manual therapy — Manual therapy is an umbrella term for many hands-on techniques, including soft tissue mobilization, joint mobilization, myofascial release and more. These techniques involve your physical therapist manually manipulating the soft tissue or joint to help relieve muscle tension, improve joint mobility and reduce pain.

• Graston Technique® — The Graston Technique uses specialized stainless steel instruments that can help break down scar tissue and boost circulation to promote healing. Your physical therapist will apply the instruments using firm but gentle pressure in specific directions to help release restrictions in the soft tissue.

• Dry needling — Dry needling is a technique that should only be used by certified practitioners. A certified physical therapist will manually insert thin, sterile needles into trigger points, tender spots in your muscles, to help release muscle tension and reduce pain. Your physical therapist will identify these points and insert the needles to help stimulate a release response and improve muscle function. 

Your physical therapist will recommend and use techniques based on your unique needs and recovery goals. Your personalized treatment plan may include a combination of these or other techniques best suited to help your recovery.

Tips that may help prevent inner elbow pain

Preventing inner elbow pain can involve making lifestyle changes and adopting good posture habits. Here are some tips to help prevent inner elbow pain:

• Take regular breaks.
• Use proper form.
• Do strengthening exercises.
• Use an ergonomic setup at your workstation.
• Use cold therapy after exercising.

By understanding the potential causes behind your inner elbow pain and taking preventive measures, you can reduce your risk of developing these conditions and improve your overall elbow health. 

Your partner in inner elbow pain relief can be found at SSOR

At Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, we understand the frustration and limitations that can be caused by inner elbow pain. Our team of expert physical therapists offers personalized treatment plans designed to address the root cause of your discomfort. With a comprehensive approach combining hands-on techniques, exercises and education, we can help you regain use of your elbow and return to doing your favorite activities. Don’t let elbow pain hold you back. 

Call us or request an appointment today to start your journey to overcome inner elbow pain.