What Are the Causes of Lateral Elbow Pain?

The elbow is an important part of daily functions. It is especially important to people who rely on elbow motions for their careers such as in the case of athletes. Occasionally the lateral elbow can suffer pain and there are several reasons why.

Tennis Elbow

• Tennis elbow is caused from excessive repetitive flexing and bending of the elbow. This also happens in careers like painting and landscaping.

Bursitis

• The elbow has small bursa sacks that act as padding. When they become inflamed, this can lead to bursitis. A particular kind that targets the lateral elbow is called radiohumeral bursitis.

Synovitis

• The joints of the body have synovial membranes in them that act as lubrication. When they get inflamed, synovitis can occur which causes pain.

Radial Tunnel

• There is a nerve that passes through a tunnel at the elbow called the radial nerve. When this nerve ends up getting squeezed, radial tunnel syndrome can result leading to pain.

Dislocated

• When the elbow becomes dislocated, the ligaments get overstressed which leads to pain. These are due to falls or accidents where the arm is stretched out from the body.