I Have Tennis Elbow and the Pain Is Worse at Night

Your tennis elbow may ache, throb, or feel tender at night after a day of gripping, lifting, or wrist movement because the irritated tendon can become more noticeable when your arm is resting.

When your tennis elbow is worse at night, you may notice that your elbow was manageable during the day but starts aching once you sit down or get into bed. The pain may stay in one spot on the outside of your elbow or spread slightly into your forearm, making it difficult to find a comfortable position.

You may also notice the soreness more clearly when everything around you becomes still. After hours of using your hand and wrist, the tendon involved in tennis elbow can remain tender, so the pain that seemed minor during the day may become much harder to ignore at night.

Your Elbow Aches More After A Full Day Of Use

The outside of your elbow may become increasingly sore by the time you stop using your hand.

You might notice little pain when you first start your day, followed by more aching after gripping, carrying, typing, opening containers, or using your wrist repeatedly. By nighttime, that accumulated activity can leave the tendon more sensitive and make the elbow ache when you finally rest.

Your Elbow Hurts When You Settle Into Bed

Your elbow may throb or feel tender once your arm is still and you are trying to get comfortable.

You may find yourself moving your arm or changing positions because one position puts pressure on the sore area. Keeping your elbow bent for a long time or resting the arm against the mattress can also make the discomfort more noticeable when you are trying to fall asleep.

Why Your Elbow Aches More At Night

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 is my tennis elbow pain worse at night?

Your elbow may hurt more at night because the tendon remains sore after a full day of gripping, lifting, and wrist movement.

Can tennis elbow cause pain when sleeping?

Yes. Your elbow can become painful when you rest it in one position or place pressure on the sore outside portion of the elbow.

Why does my tennis elbow hurt more when I stop moving?

Your pain may become more noticeable when you stop moving because daytime activity can leave the affected tendon tender by the time you rest.

Can daytime activity make tennis elbow hurt at night?

Yes. Repeated gripping, lifting, and wrist movement during the day can leave your elbow more sore by nighttime.

Should I be concerned if my tennis elbow hurts at night?

Nighttime pain can occur with tennis elbow, but persistent, severe, or worsening pain should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

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.