As an executive mum, if you have been dealing with that nagging ache on the outside of your elbow, the kind that shows up when you lift a pan, pick up your toddler, type for too long, or even just try to open a jar you have probably wondered “Is this tennis elbow… or something else?” then you are not alone. Most women don’t realise how many conditions mimic tennis elbow, especially when you are juggling work, kids, house tasks, and a nervous system that’s constantly on alert. In this blog, lets break this down simply, so you can finally understand what your elbow is trying to tell you.
What Tennis Elbow Really Feels Like:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Pain when gripping (cups, bags, your child’s hand)
- Pain when lifting with your palm facing down
- Pain that increases with typing or scrolling
- Tenderness when pressing the outer bony point of the elbow
A key giveaway … It stings when you pick something up with a straight arm or try to twist open a lid.
If the Pain Is More on the Inside of the elbow, It Might Be Golfer’s Elbow
A lot of moms are shocked to learn this: You can have a golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) without playing golf, just like you can have a tennis elbow without playing tennis.
Golfer’s elbow shows up as:
- Pain on the inside of the elbow
- Discomfort gripping or carrying grocery bags
- Pain when lifting with the palm facing up
- Ache that shoots down the forearm
It’s incredibly common in toddler moms and desk workers because both require repetitive gripping.
If You Feel Tingling, Numbness, or Zaps, It Might Be Nerve-Related
This is the part most people miss.
If your pain comes with:
- Tingling in the fingers
- Burning in the forearm
- Numbness along the elbow
- Sudden “electric” sensations
… you may be dealing with nerve irritation or compression, not tendon inflammation.
If Your Whole Arm Aches, Your Neck Might Be the Culprit
I know it may be surprising. But the nerves that control your forearm and elbow come from your neck. Compressed nerves in the cervical spine can create “elbow pain” that has nothing to do with the elbow at all.
Signs this may be you:
- Pain that travels from the neck into the arm
- Shoulder tightness that never fully goes away
- Pain that worsens after long computer sessions
This is why treating the elbow alone sometimes does nothing.
So… How Do You Know for Sure?
A simple rule of thumb:
- Localized pain on the outside of the elbow? Likely tennis elbow.
- Localized pain on the inside? Likely golfer’s elbow.
- Pain + numbness/tingling? Likely nerve involvement.
- Arm pain + neck stiffness? Likely a referred pain pattern.
Your pain is not random. Your body is communicating. You just need the right framework to decode the message.
If you want a clear, step-by-step breakdown to figure out what kind of elbow pain you actually have and how to treat it at home, I’m happy to send you my quick assessment guide. The Tennis Elbow & Golfer’s Elbow Relief Course is designed exactly for executive moms like you because you deserve to feel better without sacrificing your momentum. Get the course on "Simple Solutions to Manage your Tennis Elbow" HERE. In this course you can learn effective, easy-to-implement techniques to manage and reduce tennis elbow pain so you can move more comfortably, strengthen your arm, prevent flare ups, achieve long term relief and much more.
You can get on the waitlist of the course "Simple Solutions to Manage your Golfers Elbow" by replying to this blog in the comments.
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