I am doing all right, some weeks I use more pain meds, some less. I use a hiking pole a lot, the wrist strap is easier to use than a handle on a cane. It slowly gets worse, but I am thankful that I wasn't more affected when my children were younger. It is what it is, and a lot of people have it harder than I do. Proper pain medication is a must, I can get a lot more done with it than without it. I am very fortunate to have a cooperative family doctor. I think that it is a scary condition to start with, but you get used to it and adapt. You have to.

The temperature thing with the EMGs is interesting. I am always cold and it took them almost an hour with a heat lamp at Johns Hopkins before they would start the test. I felt like a French fry.
The neurologist at Hopkins was the first doctor in my entire life who was able to get a reflex response. Not sure if that was to his credit or not!

About the accuracy of tests, the neurologist at Hopkins was almost certain about the HNPP, because of the pinched nerves. The Athena test was negative, but it only has an 85% accuracy rate. 15% is a pretty high margin of error! I assume other tests can vary too.