An elbow sprain is an injury to one or more of the ligaments around the elbow. Elbow ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect the bones of your upper arm and lower arm around your elbow joint. An elbow sprain typically occurs when the arm experiences sudden, forceful stretching during physical activity or an accident.

Rarity: Common

Symptoms

Pain
Soreness
Swelling
Difficulty bending and extending the elbow

Elbow sprain quiz

Take a quiz to find out what's causing your elbow sprain.

Treatment

You should ice and rest your elbow using the RICE method (rest, ice, use compression, and elevate it). If the pain is too intense, using NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen can relieve the pain.

Share your story

Share your story below!

First name initial (required)

Email (required; not displayed)

Title for your story (required)

Once your story receives approval from our editors, it will exist on Buoy as a helpful resource for others who may experience something similar.

The stories shared below are not written by Buoy employees. Buoy does not endorse any of the information in these stories. Whenever you have questions or concerns about a medical condition, you should always contact your doctor or a healthcare provider.

Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH.

Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Dr. Rothschild has been a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP...

Read full bio

Was this article helpful?

5 people found this helpful

Get all of your prescriptions refilled for a year for only $10/month