sudden pain in elbow

two days ago my elbow started twitching intermitently.  no pain.
then, last night, as i was reaching for something, my elbow kind of locked.  it hurt.  Since then, it has hurt off and on, on the upper part of the arm right next to the elbow.  (right next to the pointy bone).  No other part of my arm hurts.
this is my left arm (I am right handed) and i have never injurted the arm and don't remember bumping it recently.  It sort of cramps, or catches, with pain when I move it.  I can't see this as a stress related injury since i don't use my left arm for strenuous acticities (writing, throwing, etc).  I haven't played sports within a week, either.
Any suggestions?

[Puddskitty]

as an addendum, i am 21 yrs old
don't know if that makes any difference!

[Puddskitty]

here's an interesting observation:
when I keep my hand flat (so that the top of the hand is even with the arm) and then bend my elbow, nothing hurts at all.
when I turn my hand/wrist outward, and bend my eblow, then I have pain.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

What is your age? Since when have you noticed these symptoms? What work do you
do? Does it involve a lot of movement or rotation at the elbow joint or constant
pressure on the elbow for long hours? Is the swelling on the inside or outside
of your elbow joint? Do you remember  any history of trauma or injury to the
site?

This could be - tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, olecranon bursitis or synovial
cyst of the elbow joint.

'Tennis elbow is a condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes painful
and tender. It's a condition that is commonly associated with playing tennis,
though the injury can happen to almost anybody.
The condition is more formally known as lateral epicondylitis ("inflammation to
the outside elbow bone"), lateral epicondylosis, or simply lateral elbow pain.'
You could read more about this at the following link -
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00068
and
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tennis-elbow/DS00469
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_elbow

'Golfer's elbow — also known as medial epicondylitis — is similar to tennis
elbow. But it occurs on the inside — rather than the outside — of your elbow.'
You could read more about this at the following link -
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/golfers-elbow/DS00713

'Olecranon bursitis is inflammation of the bursa overlying the olecranon process
at the proximal aspect of the ulna. The bursa is located between the ulna and
the skin at the posterior tip of the elbow.'
You could read more about this at the following link -
http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/TOPIC91.HTM

It would be advisable to consult your doctor for a confirmed diagnosis and to
plan the further management.

Let us know if you need any other information and post us about how you are
doing.

Regards.