Hi - in regards to the progression of nerve "death" - I honestly didnt realize how bad it was at first until too late (I dont know if they could have slowed it or not)....

My PN started noticeably to me overnight with my right hand and foot going completely tingling numb, felt like they were always asleep and I'd shake them to try to wake them up (thought I had pinched a nerve or something)... that eventulally led to no feeling at all - but during the period of the tingling feeling I was still working for several months - others starting noticing before I did actually that I seemed to be limping, walking tilted, and a co-worker who had spent a year in a head injury clinic asked me if I realized I was having problems with propeciation because he could tell by watching me I was having problems telling where my body was in space... then I started noticing I couldnt stand without holding on to something, for example I'd have to sit in a checkout line at a store cause I'd loose my balance and I'd just tell people I had an ear infection (I still had no idea what was going on - I had an HMO and they refused to send me to a neuro)... then I started getting injured, multiple burns and cuts to my arms, cuts on my lets, etc.. that I never noticed until a day or so later and realized I couldnt feel them... Six months after onset I was finally sent to a neuro - who did NCS that day and disagnosed mild sensory PN - which within a year progressed to complete sensory loss. That was 7 years ago, I've now got motor loss too - but at least theres still conduction there....

Curretly I do get constant numbness, aching, and tingling, but not severe pain from the PN like many do. I have pretty severe back and gut pain - other issues.....

So in regards to progression - I honestly did not realize the extent and severity until very well along.... and if they had let me see a neruo in a timely manner, I think outcome may have been different... I'm getting IVIG now - does give more energy and seems to be stopping progression of damage in my arms and helping balance some - a good thing....