Your doctor will feel the joint to check for a bump. He may order an X-ray to help him to see the area better.
Other tests your doctor can use include:
CT scan. It's a powerful X-ray that makes detailed pictures inside your body.
MRI . This uses powerful magnets and radio waves to make pictures of organs and structures inside your body.
Electroconductive tests. These tests measure how fast your nerves send electrical signals. They can show the damage bone spurs have caused to nerves in your spinal cord.