What is elbow bursitis?

What is elbow bursitis?

Elbow bursitis is painful swelling around your elbow joint. Specifically, it’s inflammation in the olecranon bursa — the fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects your elbow.

All the big joints in your body are surrounded by a bursa. They act as cushions and shock absorbers between your bones and your muscles, tendons or skin. Bursitis happens when a bursa gets irritated by overuse, damaged from trauma or during an infection.

The pain from an inflamed bursa may be sudden or build up over time.

Elbow bursitis vs. tennis elbow

Elbow bursitis and tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) both cause pain in your elbow. They can both also be caused by overuse. Bursitis is inflammation in the bursa around your elbow. Tennis elbow happens when the tendons in your elbows are inflamed or torn.

Elbow bursitis vs. elbow cellulitis

Cellulitis is a non-contagious bacterial infection. It causes swelling in your skin and deeper tissues around the infected part of your body. Both bursitis and cellulitis cause swelling, but bursitis isn’t an infection.

Elbow bursitis vs. gout

Gout is a painful form of arthritis caused by a buildup of uric acid in your body. It causes pain and swelling like bursitis, but it usually affects your big toes. Gout’s symptoms are caused when sharp uric acid crystals collect in your joints. The pain and swelling from bursitis are caused by inflammation in your fluid-filled olecranon bursa.

Gout — and other types of arthritis — can be a cause of bursitis.

No matter what’s causing pain or swelling, talk to your healthcare provider if you notice any new symptoms in or around your elbow.