--- title: "Swollen Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis) | Sutter Health" description: "My right elbow has been swollen for a few days, and it feels like it’s full of fluid. I don’t remember injuring it, and I don’t really feel any pain. I tried icing it, but the swelling did not go down. What could this be, and should I see my doctor?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281" --- 1. Home / 2. Swollen Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis) # Swollen Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis) * * * Medically reviewed by - Noah Weiss, M.D. ## Question My right elbow has been swollen for a few days, and it feels like it’s full of fluid. I don’t remember injuring it, and I don’t really feel any pain. I tried icing it, but the swelling did not go down. What could this be, and should I see my doctor? ## Answer The first thing I would like to know is the exact location of the swelling. Often, people will notice swelling on the back of the elbow. You can develop a soft, squishy collection of fluid that is called olecranon bursitis. This form of elbow swelling is actually outside the elbow joint itself. This can range from a sense of thickening on the back of the elbow to a substantial collection of fluid, bigger than an egg. Olecranon bursitis typically isn’t painful. Initial treatment usually consists of a compressive ace wrap and ice. Often we drain these in the office. The big risk is getting an infected olecranon bursitis, which is more serious. True swelling inside the elbow joint is much rarer, and may be due to arthritis, or a more severe injury. This type of swelling is marked by loss of motion and stiffness, and often pain. This type of swelling needs to be evaluated by a specialist. ## Explore related topics Bones, joints and musclesHand, Wrist, Elbow ## Meet our care team Noah Weiss, M.D. Orthopedic Surgery ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Numbness and Tingling in the Hands I wake up with my right hand numb. My thumb and middle finger seem the worst. It takes awhile for the numbness to wear off. I work in a grocery store, so I'm always on my feet and on the register. What should I do? - Health Q&A ### Recurrence of a Ganglion Cyst I had wrist surgery in January for a ganglion cyst on the inside of my wrist. It was painful and affected my quality of life. It was healing well until six weeks ago. The cyst has returned and is causing the same symptoms prior to surgery. What can I do? - Health Q&A ### Treatment for Ganglion Cyst I have had a lump on my left wrist for over a year. It was bigger at one time and now is small. Sometimes in protrudes through the skin. 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View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Swollen Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis)"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281","name":"Swollen Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis)","description":"The first thing I would like to know is the exact location of the swelling.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#question","name":"Swollen Elbow (Olecranon Bursitis)","text":"My right elbow has been swollen for a few days, and it feels like it’s full of fluid. I don’t remember injuring it, and I don’t really feel any pain. I tried icing it, but the swelling did not go down. What could this be, and should I see my doctor?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#answer","text":"The first thing I would like to know is the exact location of the swelling. Often, people will notice swelling on the back of the elbow. You can develop a soft, squishy collection of fluid that is called olecranon bursitis. This form of elbow swelling is actually outside the elbow joint itself. This can range from a sense of thickening on the back of the elbow to a substantial collection of fluid, bigger than an egg. Olecranon bursitis typically isn’t painful. Initial treatment usually consists of a compressive ace wrap and ice. Often we drain these in the office. The big risk is getting an infected olecranon bursitis, which is more serious. True swelling inside the elbow joint is much rarer, and may be due to arthritis, or a more severe injury. This type of swelling is marked by loss of motion and stiffness, and often pain. This type of swelling needs to be evaluated by a specialist.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#expert"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/swollen-elbow-olecranon-bursitis-1051061281#expert","name":"Noah Weiss","honorificSuffix":"M.D."} ```