Originally Posted by glenntaj

Radiculopathy (dysfunction of the spinal nerve roots) or even frank spinal cord compression can cause symptoms that can exactly mimic those of peripheral nerve dysfunction farther "down the line", which is why inquiry into neural symptoms is often so time-consuming, expensive, and process of elimination.

As Mrs. D point out, though, the Liza Jane spreadsheets are excellent for suggesting tests to comprehensively work up such symptoms, and are also good for tracking results over time. (Too often, doctors think in certain tracks and their test orders are spotty and incomplete.)