Hi Judy @judypall, I also have idiopathic small fiber peripheral neuropathy. As much as I would like to know why/what caused it, I realize it's not going to happen. The most likely cause in my case is hereditary according to my neurologist. To put it in a little perspective, I heard an 80+ year old neurologist from the University of Minnesota tell us at a meeting of the Minnesota Neuropathy Association something to the affect that "if you live long enough, you will get neuropathy...nerves die as part of the aging process". While mine has not gone away, I feel that I have been able to slow the process somewhat by taking some supplements. I posted my story earlier on Connect here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-here-dealing-with-peripheral-neuropathy/?pg=42#comment-65985

This short video by Matthew B Jensen Assistant Professor of Neurology, University of Wisconsin that gives a good explanation of how the different neuropathies are diagnosed.