MSK · Elbow

Elbow Pain — Tennis Elbow, Golfer’s Elbow or Bursitis?

Three common problems, three different locations. Where it hurts usually names it — and ultrasound is well suited to confirming which.

Person gripping their forearm just below the elbow in discomfort

Neither tennis elbow nor golfer’s elbow requires playing either sport — both are load problems of the tendons that anchor your forearm muscles to the elbow. They are common in people who grip, lift, type or carry, which is most of us. The elbow’s structures sit just under the skin, making it one of the joints ultrasound handles best.

Location

Which one is it?

Where it hurts What it usually is Typically provoked by
Outer side of the elbow Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) Gripping, lifting with the palm down, a kettle, a mouse
Inner side of the elbow Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) Gripping with the wrist bending in, throwing, screwdriver work
Back of the elbow, a soft swelling over the point Olecranon bursitis Leaning on the elbow, or a knock
Inner elbow with pins and needles into the little finger Ulnar nerve irritation at the elbow Prolonged bending, leaning on the inner elbow

A hot, red, swollen elbow needs same-day care

Bursitis over the point of the elbow that becomes hot, red and painful, particularly with fever or after a break in the skin, may be infected. That needs a GP or urgent care appointment today — call NHS 111 if you cannot get one.

The Scan

What ultrasound shows at the elbow

The common extensor and flexor tendon origins are directly under the probe, so the scan shows tendon thickening, the disorganised tissue of established tendinopathy, partial tears, and calcification. It sees bursal swelling clearly and can distinguish simple fluid from thickened, inflamed tissue. The ulnar nerve can be watched at the inner elbow, including whether it slips out of its groove as you bend — something only a real-time test can show.

The limits are the same as elsewhere: the joint surfaces, cartilage and bone are not ultrasound’s territory. If a locking elbow or a bony injury is the question, X-ray or MRI is the answer, arranged through your GP.

At IUS London

How the appointment runs

  1. 1
    BookingNo referral, no preparation, short sleeves helpful. The appointment is 30 minutes.
  2. 2
    The scanThe elbow examined bent and straight, with the tendon origins assessed under load and the ulnar nerve watched as the elbow moves.
  3. 3
    ComparisonThe other elbow is often scanned too — tendon appearances vary between people, and comparison makes findings interpretable.
  4. 4
    ResultsExplained on screen as we scan, with the written report usually within two hours — enough detail for a physiotherapist to build a loading plan around.
FAQs

Your questions answered

Do I need a scan for tennis elbow?
Not usually at first — the diagnosis is largely clinical and most cases settle with load management. A scan is worth it when the diagnosis is unclear, when a tear is suspected, or when months of sensible rehab have not shifted it.
How long does tennis elbow take to settle?
Longer than most people expect — often several months, sometimes a year. That is normal for tendon problems and not a sign that something is being missed.
Is it inflammation?
Mostly not, despite the name. The tendon tissue is typically degenerative and disorganised rather than acutely inflamed, which is why anti-inflammatory approaches alone often disappoint and progressive loading works better.
Can ultrasound see the ulnar nerve?
Yes — it can show thickening and whether the nerve subluxes out of its groove during bending. If you have numbness into the little finger, mention it when you book so we assess it specifically.
Should I have my bursitis drained?
That is a clinical decision, and we do not perform drainage or injections. Many settle with avoiding pressure on the elbow. A hot, red bursa with fever needs same-day assessment for infection.
Can I keep training?
Usually yes, modified — reducing the provoking grip loads while continuing to work the tendon in tolerable ranges. A physiotherapist should set the specifics after examining you.
Related

Where to go from here

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What the pattern suggests and what the scan sees.

Read the guide →WristWrist Pain and Hand Numbness

Carpal tunnel and the other causes of a numb hand.

Read the guide →ScansOther MSK Scans

Calf, hamstring, groin and other soft tissue areas.

See scans →

Name it, then treat it

Tendon origins, bursa and ulnar nerve assessed in real time in a 30-minute appointment — explained on screen as we scan, with the written report usually within two hours for your GP or physiotherapist.

From £169
Elbow ultrasound scan

Elbow scan

5a Lucerne Mews
Kensington, London W8 4ED
3 mins from Notting Hill Gate

This article is general information about elbow pain, not individual medical advice. A hot, red, swollen elbow — particularly with fever — needs same-day assessment. See NHS guidance on tennis elbow. We provide diagnostic ultrasound only; we do not offer X-ray, MRI, injections or drainage.

Written and clinically reviewed by the HCPC-registered sonographers who perform this scan at IUS London — a CQC-registered diagnostic ultrasound clinic (Provider ID 1-2775844974). Your own findings are explained to you at the scan and set out in your report.

Author: Yianni Kiromitis, Senior Sonographer, HCPC RA38415 — over 20 years’ experience in NHS and private ultrasound
Medically reviewed: 9 August 2026