Thanks, doc. I'll have a look at those links. At first blush I have a feeling that the prednisone treatment wouldn't be helpful, or perhaps I should say prescribed, for me since mine is idiopathic. My friend seems to be suffering from some sort of auto-immune problem, maybe Guillain-Barre and/or reaction to a flu shot. He said that after 2 months on the pred the sensation came back to his hands 95%. I'd take 50 at this point.