The PN is so different for every person, it is really impossible to tell how each will progress. Determining the cause is a big factor in receiving proper treatment. Unfortunately the cause cannot always be found.
When my symptoms started, the basics were done first, ruling out diabetes, toxins, my water was tested, MRI to rule out MS, b-12, rhemotoid factors done, thyroidd tests, lyme tests, gluten tests, sjrogens , lupus, vascular tests, emg/ncv testing, paraneoplastic panel, The lists and tests may go on and on until something is found.
The best you can do during this diagnosing phase is write things down, think back and see if there were precursors you missed, get family history to check for hereditary neuropathy. Have you started new medication,( statins, antibiotics ). It's hard to be patient and wait for all the testing and results. The good news is now, being a teacher, you must be off for the summer and can hopefully get all the testing done and over with before fall. Good luck.....I know it's hard, but try not to google too many symptoms. Try to wait for your Dr and test results. In the diagnosing phase I had myself so stressed from doing this and it really didn't change anything, just caused me more stress.
Informing yourself once you have a diagnosis is great and helpful, but trying to diagnose yourself is not.