I use the Tinel's spots to put my Lidoderm patches or magnets.
If I have pain either in the feet or hands, usually one or the other puts this nerve to sleep. (blocking the sodium channels manually or chemically).

I have much more of an issue with my left foot... that is my old surgical foot that gives me grief. It used to swell up alot with the old lisinopril (drug induced lupus), but has been much better lately since I switched out from that drug.
I have X-ray verification of spurring too of it. Sometimes my left ankle will throb in the night in that Tinel location. But that luckily is temporary, and moving the foot will sometimes stop it.

I think it is difficult to assume what the discomfort is. But it does show the doctors that you are "not making it up" at least.(since we know that some doctors don't believe PNers very much)