Associated symptoms

Since pain is the result of complex processes within the affected structure, it is usually accompanied by a number of other symptoms. If the complaints are based on an inflammation, there is usually also a significant swelling, redness, overheating and a functional impairment in the affected areas. In the area of the elbow, these are mainly the outer soft tissues and the bursae, which serve to move between the skin and the bony structures of the joint.

If the inflammatory reaction takes place within the joint space, it is called arthrosis. In addition to swelling, this is often accompanied by effusion and possibly noticeable rubbing within the joint, so-called crepitations. Other possible symptoms are a reduction in strength, sensory disturbances, movement restrictions and muscle atrophy, which indicate a nerve constriction syndrome.

At the elbow, the ulnar nerve is affected in most cases. Pain that occurs in the elbow joint during extension often results from inflammatory processes in the area of the joint that have led to the formation of an effusion. This effusion is not painful in itself.

However, it does press on the surrounding structures, as it takes up too much space within the joint. When the arm is stretched, the space is further narrowed, the pressure inside the joint increases and the surrounding structures are displaced and irritated even more. This finally leads to the pain.

Other causes of pain during elbow extension can be injuries in the area of cartilage and bone, which cause pain due to the rubbing during movement. The causes for pressure pain felt at the elbow are manifold. Depending on the exact localization, the pain can be caused by injuries to the muscle tendons, nerve constriction syndromes, inflammation of the bursae and injuries to the cartilage or bones. In addition to the localization, accompanying symptoms such as movement or sensitivity restrictions and the exact history of the illness provide a clear indication of the cause.