--especially those with a demyelinating component to their neuropathy, find heat more difficult to tolerate than cold, as heat is the enemy of "clean" nerve transmission, and if one had myelin damage the nerves are not transmitting that cleanly to begin with.

The MS people know this well--and there are many products on the market, such as cooling water vets, that are made primarily for them. And savvy neurologists know that nerve conduction studies are supposed to be done in a relatively cool room.