glenn: thanks for your response. as to work-ups, i've had every pn/cidp work-up known to mankind, i think, and nothing has given the MDs any clues as to the cause or to even an absolute diagnosis. suffice it to say, i was very disappointed when the ivig round produced no results (unless, of course, the present regaining is a delayed ivig reaction ....). got the spinal tap two weeks ago but won't get results until end of next month. if it shows indications of cidp, the doc may try steroids on me.

mrsD: well, my footdrop isn't exactly bilateral, it's just worse on the right side. plus, i'm pretty sure i've never suffered an injury such as you describe. i'm kind of inclined to think maybe the drinking is, if not the cause of the problem, than at least a big contributing factor. At the time I felt the numbness coming on, I was not drinking and had not been drinking for 19 years. Six years ago, I started up with a bit of wine and then increased that bit of wine to about 1/3 - 1/2 bottle a day and, during that period, the PN took off like a rocket. coincidence or causation, i don't know, of course, but it sure couldn't hurt to lay off the booze for a year or two and see what happens.

thanks again for speaking up!