I agree with you if the Prednisone is helping the neuropathy, then it must have an inflammatory factor. 20 mg daily is a moderate dose (for a daily ongoing treatment). You don't mention how long you have taken this dose, but if you've done so for a couple weeks or more, then tapering should be slower then you describe. Going from 20 mg to nothing in one month is asking a lot of anyone. It's no wonder you flared after dropping 5 mg at once, then again the next week with another 5 mg.

If the doctor is ok with staying on 10 mg for the procedure, then you might want to consider it (after discussing it with your other doctors and neuro first). It would also be interesting to see if you get the same benefit (or enough benefit) from this dose vs the 20 mg...since you were having some side-effects at the higher dose. 10 mg daily for long term use is a much more acceptable dose than 20 mg.

I think you said your CRP and ESR were down to normal even before you started the steroids. And they seem to fluctuate up and down, so not sure if I would use these alone in determining inflammation. They can be helpful to gauge inflammation, but in your (difficult) case, you should go by your symptoms. If you are having less pain and symptoms with the steroids, then that should tell you it is inflammatory...especially if they pain/symptoms return when you lower or stop the Prednisone.

I can't help you with the labs, as they all look to be in range. So not sure what the neuro was referencing about an autoimmune or infection indicator.

I don't remember your history in full...have they done an MRI of the brain? If so, was it normal...completely normal (where you saw the report, not just told it was ok)?

I'm not sure why your WBC & Lymphocytes would be high...steroids should lower those, not increase them. After all, steroids are an immune suppressor. So you should ask the doctor about the levels as maybe this is what he was considering for an infection (as they would increase for infection).

Sorry I can't be of more help. I know it's frustrating. But if you have found that steroids help your symptoms, then you should look for the source of inflammation, and in the meantime, find an appropriate dose of steroids that keeps your symptoms at bay, but also not allow side-effects to get out of hand.