Both good points, thanks. And yes, the autoimmune version might well be even way more complicated.

Pain masking pain. Now that I can look back without being in agony, I can say I'm pretty sure I didn't have any foot pain (or pain in general) before the back problem started. Stress wise I was a wreck though, especially when the tinnitus started.

I did however have a sort of "restless feet" syndrome, I couldn't keep my toes still, had heavy feeling legs, and very often night cramps in my feet/lower legs like I had as a growing kid/teenager. This became worse & worse over the years until the PN broke out. I can't prove they are related, but they might possibly be.

The back problem cleared up soon afterwards without any intervention, and never came back either. But I do suspect it worked in the way pabb described it.