Elbow pain (ICD-10-GM R52.-: Pain, not elsewhere classified; ICD-10-GM M79.6 Pain in the extremities) can be the symptom of many different conditions.
Depending on the cause, elbow pain can occur in the context of trauma (fractures), stress injuries (work- or sports-related), or chronic diseases (epicondylitis humeri).
Most commonly, the symptoms occur due to damage to the tendon insertions, ligaments (handball goalie elbow/goalkeeper elbow), cartilage/bone (throwing elbow), and nerve tissue (e.g., nerve entrapment). Very rarely, elbow pain is due to muscle rupture.
Note: Elbow pain can also be caused by injuries to the neck, shoulder, and wrist!
Elbow pain can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: Course and prognosis depend on the underlying cause. Harmless elbow pain usually disappears spontaneously after a short time. In the case of prolonged, chronic pain or sudden onset of very severe pain, further clarification should be sought. Likewise for swollen or overheated joints of the arm (e.g., bacterial infection).
