Your health professional may ask you about any previous elbow injuries or elbow pain, your current injury or pain, and your daily activities to find out the cause of your elbow pain.

Questions may include the following:

• Did you have a sudden accident or injury that caused your elbow pain? Describe the injury.
• If the injury is not from a sudden accident, when did the pain begin? Did it start suddenly or gradually? Describe your pain. What were you doing when you first noticed the pain? Do you think the pain is related to an unusual activity? Could it be related to your job?
• Have you had any injuries or pain in your elbow before? How were they treated? How well did treatment work?
• Have you had corticosteroid shots for elbow pain? How many?
• What do you do in your job, sports, hobbies, or daily activities that includes grasping and twisting arm movements or lifting?
• Do you have pain in any other joints or in your neck?
• Do you have other diseases, such as diabetes or arthritis, and do you take any medications?
• What particular positions or activities make your elbow problem worse? Or better?
• Have you tried treating your elbow pain? Did it work?