Megan--in that Washington University Neuromuscular Lab material, the part about "slow partial recovery" refers to idiopathic syndromes with acute onset, rather than a long, slow one; these syndromes are generally suspected to have autoimmune (molecular mimicry) mechanisms involved, often post viral or post-bacterial, and are considered to be sensory nerve analogues to Guillan Barre syndrome.

This is the type of situation I'm apparently in, and yes, the skin biopsy material seems to show a slow re-enervation over time. It's unlikely I'll ever get complete recovery and be symptom-free, though I'm much better than I was two years ago. One of the effects that I've been left with, however, is a tendency to pressure palsy--I am much more prone to compressive nerve effects than a "normal" person would be (and I bet a lot of people would report this for neuropathic syndromes--its much easier to compromise an
already damaged nerve). I suspect this is contributing to my right side C5/C6/C7 radiculopathy with right arm/hand symptoms, which is a bigger concern for me right now.

And in response to many people's questions--yes,the most "typical" presentation of peripheral neuropathy is for it to affect the longer nerves in the body first; this is a "length-dependent" neuropathy usually caused by some ischemic/circulatory mechanism such that nutrients have a harder time being carried farther away from the body center, and toxins have a harder time being transported out. so that the extremities feel dysfunction first.

BUT, this is hardly the only presentation. It's certainly possible to have neuropathy symptoms starting anywhere there are nerves. In nerve root neuropathy--radiculopathy--symptoms will start wherever the compressed root leads. There are autonomic syndromes that are announced by internal gastric symptoms. There are trigeminal neuralgias of the face, and toxic neuroapthies that have truncal symptoms. So, one should not assume that one is going to feel symptoms first in one's toes.

Of course, where the person feels symptoms may be an important clue as to what is happening--but it is true that too many doctors, even neuros, think that if one has symptoms beyond the toes/fingers it isn't a peripheral problem. Obviously, one should be tested for central nervous system problems as well--and the fact that symptomatically, central problems can exactly mimic peripheral problems doesn't make it easy--but the assumption shouldn't be made.