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The bursa is a slippery sac between the loose skin and the bones of your elbow. The bursa allows the skin to move freely over the underlying bone and is normally flat and it's hard to tell it is even there. However, if the bursa becomes irritated or inflamed, a condition known as elbow bursitis develops.
Swelling is often the first symptom. The skin on the back of the elbow is loose, so you may not notice small amounts of swelling right away. As the swelling continues, the bursa gets larger causing pain. The swelling may get large enough to restrict motion in the elbow.
If the bursitis is infected, the skin becomes red and warm. If the infection is not treated right away, it may spread to other parts of the arm or move into the bloodstream which can result in serious illness.
See your doctor to diagnose elbow bursitis. Non-surgical and surgical options are available.
Trauma, prolonged pressure, infection and certain medical conditions can cause bursitis in the elbow.
Trauma: A hard blow to the tip of the elbow could cause the bursa to produce excess fluid and swell.
Prolonged pressure: Leaning on the tip of the elbow for long periods of time on hard surfaces such as a tabletop may cause the bursa to swell. Typically, this type of bursitis develops over several months.
Infection: If the tip of the elbow has an injury that breaks the skin, such as an insect bite or a scrape, bacteria may get inside the bursa and cause an infection. The infected bursa produces fluid, redness and swelling. If the infection goes untreated, the fluid may turn to pus.
Medical conditions: Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout are associated with development of elbow bursitis.
Elbow Specialists
