Hi KG:
I am sure wahine and Knot will have lots of great advice for you-but to clarify- is your pain on the inside of the elbow or outside?
Does it hurt more if you resist lifting your wrist and fingers up or pulling down( curling your fingers- wrist)
The most common pain is on the outside ( tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis) pain on the inside is very often medial epicondylitis or golfer's elbow) and no you don't have to golf or play tennis to get it.
There are many great stretches for both conditions and of course some eccentric stregthening ( strengthening with the tendon lengthening) but that comes later in rehab-
Sometimes a mobilization of the ulna (forearm bone) on the humerus (upper arm bone) is very useful.
hopefully this isn't too dijointed to be of any help- just need a bit more info 1to be more specific-