Thank you agate for your suggestions and encouragement. When the numbness first began in the heels, I thought it might be due to the way I was sleeping with too much pressure against the heels from the mattress, so I added a cushion to elevate the heels. I read something about hereditary pressure palsies which can be short term or last for months, although no one in my family seems to have this. My dad did have "regular" peripheral neuropathy, which started in his 70s and gradually got worse. He didn't give up the beer and sweets, thinking it wouldn't make any difference anyway. I wish he had because his quality of life suffered, especially when the ulcers began on his legs and feet.