Why does my elbow hurt when I bend it?

We use our elbows for so many things every day. Lifting our morning cup of coffee. Holding our cellphone up to text a friend. However, many people take such common actions for granted until they begin causing them pain. 

There are many issues that could be causing your elbow pain, and figuring out which issue you’re dealing with is vital to treating your pain effectively. With a comprehensive assessment, our physical therapists can help you determine why your elbow is hurting when you bend it. 

Three issues could be why your elbow hurts when you bend it 

There are typically several steps involved in an assessment to determine why your elbow is hurting when you bend it. First, your therapist will ask you questions about the activities you do every day. Next, they’ll perform some movement tests. These are intended to reveal exactly which movements cause you to feel elbow pain. 

There are three issues that such elbow assessments often pinpoint: 

1. Tennis elbow — Medical professionals call this condition lateral epicondylitis. It’s estimated that up to 3% of the U.S. population is affected by tennis elbow annually. The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow. Other common symptoms include forearm and hand weakness and decreased elbow range of motion (ROM). 

2. Golfer’s elbow — The proper medical name for this issue is medial epicondylitis. Researchers estimate that more than 1.3 million Americans develop golfer’s elbow every year. This issue typically causes pain on the inside of the elbow. It can also lead to stiffness, weakness, and numbness and tingling in the affected elbow, forearm or wrist. 

3. Cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS) — This issue is also called ulnar neuropathy. Studies show that ulnar nerve abnormalities at the elbow occur in about 40% of people. In many cases, these abnormalities don’t lead to any symptoms. People who are symptomatic could have pain and numbness in the elbow. They might also experience tingling, numbness and weakness in the ring and little fingers. 

SSOR can help you learn why your elbow hurts when you bend it

Want to find out for sure why your elbow hurts when you bend it? Our team of therapy specialists at SSOR is ready to help you. The complimentary screenings we offer can be used to reveal the cause of your elbow pain. We also excel at building individualized treatment plans for many sources of elbow pain. Our team is also currently offering virtual care and at-home therapy sessions to help you get the therapy you need, and you can use any of our services without bothering to get a physician’s referral first. 

Take the next step to start getting our help with your elbow pain. Contact us today for more information or to schedule your complimentary screening.