I Have Golfer’s Elbow and It Hurts Even When I’m Not Using My Arm

Golfer’s elbow can hurt even when you’re not using your arm, leaving your inner elbow sore or achy at rest because repeated gripping and swinging can keep the tendon stressed.

You may expect golfer’s elbow to hurt only when you grip something or swing a club, so it can be concerning when your elbow still aches while you are resting your arm. You may notice a dull soreness on the inside of the elbow while sitting at your desk, watching television, or lying in bed.

The pain may also seem more noticeable when you stop moving because there is no activity distracting you from the ache. Repeated gripping, lifting, and wrist movement can keep the tendon that attaches to the inside of your elbow sore enough that the pain continues between activities.

Your Inner Elbow Keeps Aching While Your Arm Rests

Your elbow may ache even when your arm is completely still.

You may feel a dull, nagging soreness on the inside of your elbow while resting, rather than only during a golf swing or gripping movement. The area can remain tender after repeated use, so simply relaxing your arm does not always make the discomfort disappear immediately.

The Ache Stands Out More After You Stop Moving

Your elbow pain may become easier to notice once the activity is over.

You might feel relatively comfortable while you are busy, then notice the ache more clearly after sitting down or settling in for the evening. If your elbow has been working repeatedly, the soreness can remain for hours afterward instead of disappearing as soon as you stop using your arm.

Why Your Elbow Still Hurts At Rest

Your elbow can take longer to recover when blood flow and circulation are reduced.

Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues can become irritated or strained through repeated movement, overuse, awkward movements, prolonged positions, or everyday activities. Some of these tissues, particularly tendons and ligaments, naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body and may take longer to recover after irritation or injury. Recovery can take even longer when the same movements or activities continue to place stress on them.

Reduced circulation through the area can make it harder for the tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly. This can leave your elbow feeling sore, tight, weak, stiff, or painful during everyday activities.

How To Help Your Elbow Feel Better

Improving blood flow and circulation can help your elbow feel better.

For centuries, Chinese herbs have been used to support healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help disperse stagnant blood and excess fluids that can collect around irritated or injured tissues and restrict normal circulation. As circulation begins moving more freely, fresh blood can better deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the area to help it recover properly.

Topical remedies containing these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain and other symptoms while supporting healthy blood flow and circulation around the elbow. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether the problem is recent or has been ongoing for some time.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Bruise Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the irritated tissues. As circulation improves, fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients can more easily reach the tissues that need them for healing.

If the area is especially swollen, red, or warm after a recent injury or flare-up, Ice Substitute Poultice can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids. As swelling and trapped fluids are reduced, circulation can move more freely through the area.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold weather, Pain Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood flow to irritated tendons and ligaments. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply and can take longer to recover.

If you continue to have pain or stiffness around an injured tendon or ligament, or the area feels more painful in cold weather, Tendon and Ligament Poultice can also be used to further stimulate circulation to the area. By increasing circulation, it helps offset the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather, which can aggravate chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If your muscles feel sore or tight, or if you are preparing for exercise or strenuous activity, Muscle Therapy Massage Oil warms and stimulates the muscles, increases circulation, relieves tightness, and improves flexibility. Using it before activity helps warm up the muscles, while applying it afterward can help relieve soreness and stiffness.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Why does my golfer’s elbow hurt even when I’m not using my arm?

Your elbow can continue aching at rest when repeated gripping and wrist movement have kept the inside elbow tendon stressed.

Is it normal for golfer’s elbow to hurt at rest?

Pain at rest can occur with golfer’s elbow, particularly when the area remains sore after repeated activity.

Why does my golfer’s elbow hurt more after I stop moving?

Your elbow may feel more noticeable after activity because the soreness remains when you sit down and stop moving.

Why does golfer’s elbow keep aching between activities?

Repeated gripping and wrist movement can leave the tendon on the inside of your elbow sore between activities.

Should I be concerned if my golfer’s elbow keeps hurting at rest?

Persistent or worsening elbow pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional to determine the cause.

Safety Notes

This article provides general educational information about the topic described above.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.