Swelling in the arm, elbow, or hand

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Swelling in the arm, elbow, or hand

Swelling in the arm that comes on slowly without other symptoms usually is not caused by a serious problem. Swelling may make it hard to move your arm, or your arm may feel "tight or stiff" when you try to fully bend or straighten it. If swelling gets better or goes away with home treatment and you do not have other symptoms, a visit to a doctor is probably not needed.

Swelling in the elbow can occur from overuse or repeated motions of the elbow or from conditions, such as bursitis, arthritis, or tendinosis.

You may have swelling (edema) in your hands, which is common after you have been sitting or standing for long periods of time or during hot or humid weather. Sitting or lying down and raising the swollen arm will often relieve this type of swelling. You may notice that your arm or hand swells when you wear tight clothing or jewelry.

Swelling may be more serious if:

• You have sudden and severe swelling across 2 joints (such as your wrist and elbow) after being bitten by an insect or after taking a new medicine. This type of swelling may be caused by an allergic reaction.
• It cuts off or decreases the blood supply to the swollen area or below it.
• It does not get better or gets worse when you raise your arm.
• You have had lymph nodes in your underarm removed, such as after surgery for breast cancer. This type of swelling may be caused by lymphedema.
• You have heart disease or heart failure and have new severe swelling or swelling that is quickly getting worse.
• You have other symptoms of infection, such as a fever.

Call your doctor for an appointment if you have swelling that does not get better or go away with home treatment or if you have new swelling with other symptoms.

Credits

Last updated:	July 28, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer