--that if one is a hard-training athlete with neurological symptoms, and relatively young, the first thing to look at, barring any history of injury or other known systemic conditions, such as autoimmunity, hereditary neuropathies,or celiac, would be to look at the spinal cord.

Nerve root problems from spinal osteophyte compression can result in exactly the same symptoms as more systemic peripheral nerve conditions. Sometimes in such cases there is marked differences in symptoms when different positions are assumed or when exercising vs. not exercising, but not always.