Arthritis Answers

Olecranon Bursitis

When you rub your elbow, you can feel the hard bones of your forearm. What you can’t feel is the olecranon (oh-LEK-ra-non) bursa, a slippery sac between the loose skin of the elbow and the bones of your forearm.

Normally, the bursa acts as a cushion between the skin and the bone. But if the elbow is hit, or if you put constant pressure against the tip of the elbow (as when you lean on a desk or other hard surface), the bursa can become inflamed and irritated, a condition called bursitis. The bursa begins to swell, and may create a lump over the tip of the elbow.