I would really appreciate some feedback on whether stress could play such a material role in the profound worsening of my PN over the past 18 months.

In August 2012 I accepted a new job in a new industry (real estate development). Although my feet had started to bother me with standing (such that I saw a podiatrist 2x thinking it might be plantar fascitis [sp?]) prior to that, about three weeks before I took the job, my pain really flared up bad. Fasciculations worse, etc.

I knew by then I was going to get the job most likely, and I was nervous about whether I could do it. Foolishly I took the job anyway rather than listening to my body and accepting my limitations.

So here I am a year and a half later and suffering immensely every day.

My question is: Could the stress of the new job account for a such a dramatic increase in symtoms (given that I had been stable more or less for 18 years)? If so, is it likely that the pain pathway has been "conditioned" such that finding a new, lower stress job would not result in a reduction of pain?

I really need some feedback. The physical and emotional suffering is hard to adequately express with mere words.

Thanks,

Jason