I had mild PN until 9 years ago and got the intestinal infection (which I have again right now) - which requires flaygl and/or vancmnycin to treat - they are only meds that work... I had mild nerve damage when I got sick with the infection - (the nerves were tested the day they discovered the infection) - and 6 months later - after several rounds of flagyl and oral vanco - had NO sensory nerve conduction - the docs said it was the flagyl and they shouldnt have given me the flagyl (kinda late)... it is not worth the risk. I went from walking to wheelchair, from eating to having no solid food now for 9 years cause of the nerve damage it did to my guts... and unless there is a medical miracle - will never recover them as sural nerve biopsy shows severe loss of large and small sensory nerves, as well as nerve roots - the roots are not growing back and wont... so what the docs think is in inherited PN but was not super serious - has taken me down - in much due to this drug. As I said - I hav somehow contacted this infection again and have been very sick - but at least my GI doc I have now knows not to give me flagyl, nor would I ever touch it... Vanco is much more expensive, and they go for flagyl first.... please dont take this med!!!!!!!!!!! The infection (C-diff) itself is very dangerous but vanco, while an anti-b of last resort - at least will not kill the nerves like the flagyl. There is also another new drug on the market they are using for C-Diff, sorry, cant remember name - states right on the side affects it is toxic to nerves!!!!