About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you have signs and symptoms common to golfer's elbow that don't improve with ice, OTC pain relievers and rest, make an appointment with your doctor. After an initial exam, your doctor may refer you to a sports medicine specialist or to a doctor with advanced training in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- List any symptoms you've been having, and for how long.
- Write down your key medical information, including other conditions with which you've been diagnosed and all medications and supplements you're taking.
- Log your typical daily activity, including the length and intensity of sports or other activities that tax your elbow. Your doctor also will be interested to know if you've recently changed the frequency, intensity or method of your workouts.
- Note any recent injuries that may have damaged your elbow.
- Write down questions to ask your doctor. Creating your list of questions in advance can help you make the most of your time with your doctor.
Below are some basic questions to ask a doctor who is examining you for possible golfer's elbow. If any additional questions occur to you during your visit, don't hesitate to ask.
- What is the most likely cause of my signs and symptoms?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- Do I need any tests to confirm the diagnosis?
- What treatment approach do you recommend?
- With treatment, will I eventually be able to resume the sport or activity that caused my elbow problems?
- How long will I need to avoid the sport or activity that caused my elbow problems?
- What kind of exercise routine can I safely follow while I'm healing?
- What other self-care measures should I be taking?
- What is the likelihood that I will need surgery?
- How often will you see me to monitor my progress?
- Should I see a specialist?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth. Your doctor may ask:
- What are your symptoms?
- When did you first notice these symptoms?
- What do you think is causing your symptoms?
- Do common tasks that use your elbow — such as lifting, gripping, carrying, typing or shaking hands — trigger pain?
- Is your pain constant? Is it severe?
- Are your symptoms affecting your ability to sleep?
- Are your symptoms affecting your ability to complete normal, daily tasks, including work?
- What is your regular exercise or sports-training routine?
- Have you recently made any changes to your training routine or equipment, such as using new techniques or a new racket?
- What activities do you perform at work?
- What are your most common recreational activities or hobbies?
- Have you tried any at-home treatments so far? If so, has anything helped?
- Have you recently had any injuries that may have caused elbow damage?
- Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?
- What medications are you currently taking, including vitamins and supplements?
What you can do in the meantime
In the time leading up to your appointment, try self-care measures at home. Until your doctor sees you, avoid using your elbow in ways that cause or worsen pain. Icing the affected area and taking OTC pain medications also may help.
- Regan WD, et al. Tendinopathies around the elbow. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189250272-3/968308279/2079/28.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3143-7..00019-1--s0225_2496. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Jayanthi N. Epicondylitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Weiss LD. Epicondylitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189250272-3/968308279/1678/22.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50021-3--cesec5_299. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Mercier LR. Epicondylitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/189250272-3/968308279/2088/225.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00014-9--s2275_4609. Accessed March 16, 2010.
- Laskowski ER (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 19, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on