Elbow Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Do you have numbness or tingling in or below the elbow?

See significance of numbness or tingling if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had new numbness or tingling in or below the elbow for more than a few minutes?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had steady numbness or tingling in your arm or hand for 1 hour or longer without other loss of function?

Yes

Has your numbness or tingling become worse?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes (intermittent) for the past 24 hours that has not been evaluated by your health professional?

Yes

Has your intermittent numbness or tingling that was checked by your health professional gotten worse over the past 24 hours?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	April 03, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer