Pain around the forearm or elbow is commonly caused by:

• Tennis elbow – damage to a muscle that helps to raise the wrist
• Golfer elbow – causes pain around the tendons and muscles inside your elbow
• Sprains and strains
• Arthritis
• Poor posture
• Overuse injuries
• Nerve damage, such as carpal tunnel syndrome

Less common causes of pain include:

• Infections around the associated joints
• Traumatic injury or accident
• Fractures
• Circulatory problems, which may be caused by a fracture or other injury
• Joint dislocation
• Diabetic nerve pain

Since pain around the forearm and elbow can have so many causes, an ultrasound is always a good idea for an accurate diagnosis. See your doctor if you experience:

• Ongoing elbow aches
• Pain around the elbow muscles
• Ongoing forearm aches, or pain around the forearm muscles
• Muscle weakness
• Restricted elbow movement
• Restricted forearm movement

Ask to see a doctor urgently if you have:

• Elbow swelling
• An elbow lump/bump
• A forearm lump/bump
• Numbness
• Weakness that’s getting worse
• Heat or redness around the joint

These symptoms suggest a possible infection or nerve impingement and should be investigated promptly.

A numb or weak joint must always be taken seriously.

In many cases, elbow aches and forearm aches have benign causes, and they improve with rest.

If you don’t notice an improvement after a few weeks of rest and pain management, ask for a scan.

An ultrasound scan is a quick and easy way to diagnose many causes of elbow pain and forearm pain.

There’s no preparation required. All we suggest is that you wear loose, comfortable clothing because you’ll have to expose your arm for the scan.

It’s a good idea to leave jewellery at home.

First, you’ll be asked to sit or lie comfortably on the examination table. Then, you’ll flex your elbow if possible.

Once your arm is in the right position, the specialist applies a clear, water-based lubricant to the affected area.

This gel allows the ultrasound probe to move smoothly over your skin so that it captures accurate images.

Once you’re ready, the specialist moves the probe over the affected area. The probe captures images and projects them onto a screen.

After the probe captures enough images to make a diagnosis, the specialist will tell you that you’re done.

You can relax, get dressed again if necessary, and wipe away the excess gel.

Your specialist may be able to give you a diagnosis right away, or they may recommend further tests.

After the ultrasound, you can go home and resume your daily activities. It’s a non-invasive, painless procedure with no aftercare required.