Welcome @1938altucci, I've had my neuropathy symptoms almost 40 years but never worried the first 20 because it was just the toes feeling a little numb/tingly. Then when the symptoms started progressing and I had a little numbness and tingling above the ankles I went on a quest to get a diagnosis looking for a specific cause. Sadly there was no magic bullet at the end of the road when I received my idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy diagnosis at Mayo Rochester and got the same answer as all my PCPs throughout the years for a treatment - there isn't any medication that will help with the numbness. It's only used to address pain symptoms. That's what brought me to Connect when I started searching for answers and learning more from others shared experiences.

A few discussions you might find helpful on your journey:
--- Neuropathy 101 - Knowledge is power?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/neuropathy-101-knowledge-is-power/
--- Recently diagnosed with Small Fiber Neuropathy - so many questions:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recently-diagnosed-with-small-fiber-neuropathy-so-many-questions/
I shared my neuropathy journey in another discussion here - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/310341/. A few years ago I made some lifestyle changes to see if I could help reduce the numbness I have in my feet. Since I've been in the pre-diabetic category most of my life and it runs in my family, I've always been worried about getting diabetes but it's never progressed that far. I recently learned about the Metabolic Syndrome and most doctors don't mention it but I fit that category as do most people that are pre-diabetic. So, I started a low carb healthy fats and intermittent fasting diet. It has helped me lose a lot of weight and feel better but the jury is still out to see if it will help my neuropathy. Here's more information on the Metabolic Syndrome if you are interested:
-- The Metabolic Syndrome and Neuropathy: Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881591/
-- Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for neurological disorders
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21997383/
It's good to hear you started making some lifestyle changes. You won't regret it. Learning as much as you can about neuropathy and the available treatments that might help is the best suggestion I have and it seems like you already have a great start.

Did you have any traumatic injuries associated with the rear end car crash that could have damaged nerves in the spine or other areas?

John, thanks for your response. As I said earlier, I have not given up hope in finding the root cause. However, that doesn't mean I haven't tried to be a healthier person. I research this condition on a regular basis. It seems the cause is either orthopedic or metabolic. My condition, I believe, falls into both categories. It is possible that my car accident resulted in a vulnerability not present before the accident. The orthopedist I saw said the MRI showed an impingement in my sciatica. I do have problems with my lower back when I'm lifting, etc. I have also had blood work that shows marginal for some tests. Your input would be helpful to me. Is it worthwhile to continue to seek out the root cause, or should one resign himself to the condition and simply do the best to live with it?

DITTO