 [ Symptoms ] i have a very swollen elbow it feels like a water baloon full of liquid range of motion is uninhibited pain now  i have hivaids seems like a bursitus i fell and landed on my elbow 4 mos ago [ Disease ] that effusion fluid could be olecranon bursitis but there can be many different reasons for having an elbow full of fluid my advice to you is to see an orthopedist and expert in this area so that you can be properly evaluated