Ok after taking a few days break from my usual fairly rigorous technique practice, I have started again to find that my elbow feels different. It seems to get uncomfortable now and tenses up easily. When I alt pick really fast, and is slowing me down. Is this just because I rested for a bit and need to get warmed up again or something? I basically did some fast tremelo and scales, all alt picked, for about 15 minutes (my usual warmup excercise) and that's about all. Maybe it just needs to get warmed up again after a break?

Funny, I never used to think that i picked from my elbow joint, but I guess I do.