Advancing Tinel's Sign Clarification
 

Does an advancing Tinel's sign fade proximally as it advances distally? For everything I've read on the subject, that is not addressed.

This information might help you with this Tinel.

I know that it is probably a late answer for you, but if anyone else wonders, the answer is yes.

In the article "At Which Stage of Sensory Recovery Can a Tingling Sign Be Expected?", they quote Seddon definition of good nerve regeneration: "But a strongly positive sign at the level of the lesion that gradually faded as response moved peripherally and became stronger in the distal part of the nerve indicated that satisfactory regeneration was in progress"


And I saw your other post and I currently have similar symptoms, did your tinel sign ever advanced? did it resolved at site of lesion?

So I found more information about this topic (since I am going thru this right now and also looking for answers).
There is a research called "Clinical assessment of peripheral nerve injuries; Tinel's test." (HENDERSON WR., 1948), that followed many nerve injuries.

To summarize it, after an injury where the nerve structure was left intact but the axons were damaged enough to break their continuity (the least severe axonotmesis injury), it takes 1-2 months until the tinel sign starts to progress. After that, it can to take up to 6 months from injury until the "tail" of the sign will start to fade completely. (the length of the tinel 'wave' can be up to 6-12 inches)
In some cases there may be incomplete recovery, and the wave will be longer because of some fibres that struggled to grow but managed to do it later, and after it will be gone, slight sensitivity may stay in the injury site because of the fibres that failed to grow and are permanently stucked.

In more severe injury to the nerve, where the structure was damaged but there is partial recovery, the whole nerve may stay sensitive because fibres are continuously leaving the injury site (in delay).