I also was on clonozepam for years off and on and most recenly I decided to stop taking them and noticied my symptoms flared up but it's getting better now.

I think the moral of this story is that the drugs that work the best seem to do the most harm!
My uncle takes up to 6 mg of clonazepam a day! For years! I doubt his doctor has warned him about these I'll effects. I am sure that there are many others. I was told from the get go that clonazepam was not meant for long term use, but we tried everything else for panic. Sometimes whatever works , has to do. Usually you start with the most gentle option, and work your way up. You can't avoid things that work because there is risk involved. But knowledge of these risks is what is most important.

Is 30 considered young Mrs D? This is important for me to know, regarding the whole new receptors/worse pain. Yikes!!

Yes, 30 is considered "young" for PN.

That is when mine started.(hypothyroid).

Hereditary PNs start young also, some in childhood, but not all.
Seems that drugs can play a part in initiating some hereditary
PNs into activity. There is a study concerning a man who has the genes for CMT, but never had symptoms until he took Levaquin (antibiotic).

When I was 30, there were no drugs for this, except Elavil and thiamine (B1). I just trained myself to not focus on the pain in my feet. The athletic shoes we have today, were not even available then.