What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
6. Diagnosis
To avoid permanent damage to the muscles and nerves, it is important to see a doctor if your symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome last more than a few weeks or interfere with your usual activities. The doctor will probably start with a physical examination. To see if different positions provoke your symptoms, the doctor may gently move your elbow, wrist, neck, and shoulder and check the strength and sensation of your fingers and hand. He or she will probably also examine the ulnar nerve directly, checking whether it tends to slide out of normal position and tapping it to see if it is unusually sensitive.
To confirm a diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome and rule out other conditions of the elbow, your doctor may also order nerve tests. An electromyogram uses electrical stimulation to quantify the function of your muscles and nerves, and a nerve conduction test measures the speed at which neural signals travel. These tests are often performed together. An X-ray is usually not very useful at diagnosing cubital tunnel syndrome but may help identify musculoskeletal issues that could be contributing to symptoms, such as arthritis or bone spurs.
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