The most common cause of pain around the elbow is tendonitis. Certain people, such as baseball pitchers, can get elbow instability. This is caused by gradual loosening of the ligaments. Just like in any other joint, it is possible to get arthritis in the elbow. However, this is very rare compared to other joints such as the hip and knee.
Many nerves run past the elbow on their way to the hand.
Sometimes these can get pinched and cause pain or numbness. The most commonly pinched nerve at the elbow is the ulnar nerve, causing a disease known as cubital tunnel syndrome.