Elbow and arm pain is not usually a sign of anything serious. If it does not go away after a few weeks, contact your GP.
Ease elbow and arm pain yourself
To ease elbow and arm pain, try these things for 2 to 3 days:
- put a heat pack or a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel on your arm – do this for 10 to 15 minutes, every few hours
- take painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol
- raise your arm if it's swollen
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP if your arm:
- hurts when you exercise but the pain goes away when you rest
- is extremely painful and difficult to move
- tingles or feels numb
- has been injured and you heard a snapping noise or your arm has changed shape
These can be signs of an infection, a broken arm or a heart problem (angina).
Emergency action required: Call 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department if:
- the pain has come on suddenly and your chest feels like it's being squeezed - this could be a sign of a heart attack
- your arm is swollen and you feel hot and shivery have a very high temperature
Causes of elbow and arm pain
Apart from an injury, other things can cause arm pain.
Do not self-diagnose. Contact your GP if you are worried.
Common causes of elbow and arm pain
| Main symptoms | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Main symptoms Pain on the outside of the elbow, difficulty to fully extend the arm | Possible cause tennis elbow |
| Main symptoms Joint pain, stiffness, swelling, difficulty moving the affected area | Possible cause tendonitis or bursitis |
| Main symptoms Pain, tenderness, bruising, swelling | Possible cause sprains and strains |
| Main symptoms Pain, stiffness coming down from the shoulder | Possible cause frozen shoulder |
| Main symptoms Pain and stiffness in the joints | Possible cause arthritis |
| Main symptoms Swelling around a joint and a high temperature (or you feel hot, cold or shivery) | Possible cause joint infection (septic arthritis) |
Content supplied by the NHS and adapted for Ireland by the HSE
