SymptomBones, joints & muscles
Forearm Pain
Forearm pain is pain between the elbow and the wrist. Most of it comes from overworked muscles and tendons, for example from typing, gripping tools, lifting or racket sports. Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow and tendon inflammation near the wrist often spread pain along the forearm. Trapped nerves cause aching with tingling or weakness. A fall with deformity, severe swelling after an injury, or a hot, swollen forearm need urgent care.
Also called: Pain in the forearm, lower arm pain
At a glance
- Most common causes
- Muscle strain, overuse tendon pain, tennis and golfer's elbow, repetitive strain.
- Nerve causes
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, radial tunnel syndrome, pinched nerve in the neck.
- Injuries
- Fractures of the radius or ulna, bruises, and in rare cases compartment syndrome.
- Diagnosis
- Examination; X-ray after a fall; ultrasound, nerve tests or MRI if needed.
- Treatment
- Rest from the trigger, ice, ergonomic changes, splints, exercises and physical therapy.
When to get help
Call 911 or go to the ER
- An obviously bent or deformed forearm, or bone through the skin
- Severe, increasing pain and tightness in the forearm after an injury or with a cast, worse when the fingers are stretched
- A cold, pale or numb hand
See a doctor within a day or two
- Pain and swelling after a fall that make it hard to turn the palm up or down
- A hot, red, swollen forearm with fever, or a red streak spreading up the arm
- Swelling of the whole forearm and hand with aching and visible veins (possible arm blood clot)
- Sudden weakness of the wrist or fingers
Book a routine appointment
- Forearm pain lasting more than 2 weeks despite rest
- Pain with tingling or numbness in the hand
- Creaking or squeaking over the forearm with movement
Usually safe to manage at home
- Aching after an unusual workout or a day of heavy gripping that improves within a few days
What causes forearm pain
The forearm contains two bones, the radius (thumb side) and the ulna (little finger side), about 20 muscles that move the wrist and fingers, their tendons, and three main nerves (median, ulnar and radial). Pain can come from any of these.
Muscle strain and overuse
The forearm muscles work hard whenever you grip or move your fingers. Long sessions of typing, using a mouse, playing an instrument, climbing, lifting weights or using hand tools cause aching, tightness and tenderness in the muscle bellies. Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is the general term when pain builds up with repetitive work.
Tendon problems
- Tennis elbow: pain at the outer elbow often spreads down the top of the forearm, worse with gripping and lifting with the palm down.
- Golfer's elbow: pain at the inner elbow spreading down the inner forearm.
- De Quervain's tenosynovitis: pain along the thumb side of the wrist and lower forearm, worse with gripping and thumb movement. Common in new parents lifting babies.
- Intersection syndrome: pain, swelling and a squeaky feel on the back of the forearm about 4 to 8 cm (1.5 to 3 inches) above the wrist, common in rowers and weightlifters.
- Tendinitis of other wrist tendons.
Nerve causes
- Radial tunnel syndrome: aching in the top of the forearm just below the elbow, often mistaken for tennis elbow, but tender further down.
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: mainly hand tingling, but aching can spread up the forearm.
- Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow: pain along the inner forearm with tingling in the ring and little fingers.
- Pinched nerve in the neck: pain, tingling and weakness running down the arm in a line, often with neck pain.
Injuries
- Fractures: a fall on an outstretched hand can break one or both forearm bones, most often the radius near the wrist. See radius fracture.
- Bruises: a direct blow causes local tenderness and bruising that settles over 1 to 2 weeks.
- Compartment syndrome: after a fracture, crush injury or tight cast, pressure builds within the forearm muscles. Severe pain out of proportion to the injury, worse when stretching the fingers, is an emergency. A chronic exertional form in rowers and motorcyclists causes pain that comes on predictably with activity and settles with rest.
Other causes
- Blood clot in the arm veins: swelling, aching and heaviness of the forearm and hand, sometimes after a PICC line, strenuous overhead activity or in thoracic outlet syndrome.
- Skin and soft tissue infection (cellulitis).
- Referred heart pain: usually felt in the upper arm with chest symptoms rather than the forearm alone.
- Bone conditions: rarely, bone tumors or stress fractures in athletes.
Forearm pain by location
| Area | Likely causes |
|---|---|
| Top (back) of the forearm near the elbow | Tennis elbow, radial tunnel syndrome |
| Inner forearm near the elbow | Golfer's elbow, ulnar nerve |
| Thumb side near the wrist | De Quervain's tenosynovitis, radius fracture |
| Back of forearm above the wrist, with squeaking | Intersection syndrome |
| Whole forearm, aching after use | Muscle strain, repetitive strain |
| Whole forearm swollen | Blood clot, infection, compartment syndrome |
How doctors find the cause
A doctor will ask what you were doing when pain started, your work, hobbies and sports, and about numbness, swelling or injury. They will press along the bones, tendons and muscles, test movements against resistance, check sensation and strength, and examine the neck. An X-ray is used after injury. Ultrasound shows tendon problems and blood clots, and nerve conduction studies test nerve compression.
Treatment and home care
- Rest from the activity that causes pain, but keep the arm gently moving.
- Ice for 15 minutes a few times a day in the first 48 hours after a strain. Heat can ease muscle tightness later.
- Pain relief: acetaminophen (paracetamol), or ibuprofen tablets or gel at the label dose. Avoid NSAIDs if you have kidney disease or stomach ulcers.
- Improve your setup: keep wrists straight when typing, use a mouse that fits your hand, keep your elbows at about 90 degrees, and take short breaks every 30 to 60 minutes.
- Splints or braces: a thumb splint for De Quervain's, a wrist splint at night for carpal tunnel, or a forearm strap for tennis elbow.
- Stretching and strengthening: a physical therapist can guide exercises that build tendon tolerance over 6 to 12 weeks.
- Medical treatments: steroid injections for some tendon conditions, and surgery for fractures, persistent nerve compression or compartment syndrome.
Frequently asked questions
What causes pain in the forearm without injury?
Most forearm pain without injury comes from overuse: repetitive gripping, typing or lifting strains the muscles and tendons. Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, De Quervain's tenosynovitis and trapped nerves such as radial tunnel syndrome are common causes.
Can typing cause forearm pain?
Yes. Long hours of typing or mouse use, especially with bent wrists or no breaks, can strain forearm muscles and tendons. Adjusting your workstation, taking regular breaks and doing stretching exercises usually helps.
How do I know if forearm pain is serious?
See a doctor urgently if the forearm is deformed after a fall, pain is severe and increasing after an injury, the hand is cold, pale or numb, or the forearm is hot, red and swollen. Pain lasting more than 2 weeks also deserves a check.
How long does forearm tendonitis take to heal?
Mild tendon irritation often settles in 2 to 6 weeks with rest from the trigger. Long-standing tendon problems such as tennis elbow can take several months, and improve fastest with a structured strengthening program.
Sources
This guide was written from current patient and clinical guidance, including:
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoInfo): Forearm fractures in adults; Tennis elbow; De Quervain's tendinosis
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand: Radial tunnel syndrome
- NHS: Arm pain
- MedlinePlus: Repetitive strain injury