Bursitis, elbow strains, and arthritis.
Tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are conditions that cause pain around the outside or inside of the elbow. They often occur after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons near the elbow joint (for example, after playing tennis or golf).  1 Tendinitis: This is the inflammation or irritation of the tendons in the elbow. 2  Symptoms include pain at night, pain that worsens after movement and tenderness near the joint. 3  Bursitis: Bursitis occurs when the fluid-filled sac between the tendon and skin is inflamed.  Most elbow pain results from overuse injuries. Many sports, hobbies and jobs require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements. Elbow pain may occasionally be due to arthritis, but in general, your elbow joint is much less prone to wear-and-tear damage than are many other joints. Common causes of elbow pain include: 1  Broken arm. 2  Bursitis. 3  Cubital tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the ulnar nerve on the inside of your elbow is irritated or injured Tendinitis. Tendinitis is the irritation or inflammation of a tendon. When this occurs in the tendons in and around the elbow, pain is felt in that area. This is one of the most common causes of elbow pain, largely because it can result from so many different activities. Sprain Or Strain. Much like tendinitis, sprains and strains are common causes of elbow pain. These conditions also have somewhat similar symptoms, so it may be difficult to tell which condition you have. Sprains and strains are not exactly alike, however, since they affect different parts of the elbow. The elbow is the joint where three long bones meet in the middle portion of the arm. The bone of the upper arm (humerus) meets the inner bone of the forearm (ulna) and the outer bone of the forearm (radius) to form a hinge joint. The radius and ulna also meet in the elbow to allow for rotation of the forearm. The triceps muscle is the major muscle that extends the elbow hinge. The outer bone of the elbow is referred to as the lateral epicondyle and is a part of the humerus bone. Tendons are attached to this area and can be injured, causing inflammation or tendinitis (lateral epicondylitis, or  tennis elbow ). Causes of Elbow Pain. Elbow pain is sometimes due to arthritis, but in general, most elbow pain results from overuse injuries. Sports or any activities and professions that require repetitive hand, wrist or arm movements are more prone to elbow injury. Common causes of elbow pain are bursitis, elbow strains, and arthritis. Arthritis can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and loss of motion in affected joints. The two most common forms of arthritis that generally affects the elbow are osteoarthritis and rheumatoi Osteoarthritis of the elbow occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of the bones in the elbow wear down over time. In addition to elbow pain during or after using the elbow joint, this condition may also cause stiffness, tenderness or a loss of flexibility in that area. Sprain Or Strain. Much like tendinitis, sprains and strains are common causes of elbow pain. These conditions also have somewhat similar symptoms, so it may be difficult to tell which condition you have. Sprains and strains are not exactly alike, however, since they affect different parts of the elbow. Tendinitis causes pain and soreness around a joint. Some common forms of tendinitis are named after the sports that increase their risk. They include tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, pitcher’s shoulder, swimmer’s shoulder, and jumper’s knee. 
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/arm-pain/Pages/Introduction.aspx http://www.symptomfind.com/symptoms/elbow-pain/ http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/elbow-pain/basics/causes/SYM-20050874 http://www.symptomfind.com/health/causes-of-elbow-pain/ http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/elbow-pain http://www.jointimplant.com/patient-education/elbow/causes-of-elbow-pain/ http://www.symptomfind.com/health/causes-of-elbow-pain/ http://niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bursitis/bursitis_ff.asp
causes of pain in elbow area