Diagnosis of nerve pain problems is usually accomplished by three main steps:

• Listening to the patient’s history. Experienced nerve pain surgeons can often tell most of what they need to know from a description of when and how the pain started, where it is, and what it feels like. 

• A simple physical examination. With knowledge of nerve anatomy, correlated with where the patient is experiencing pain, a straightforward exam in the office can usually narrow in on the diagnosis.

• Nerve blocks. These are the best test for determining that:

1. The pain is due to a nerve injury.
2. Which nerve(s) are involved.
3. Where on the course of the nerve(s) is the injury (and where the surgeon can intervene to alleviate the pain).