@pfbacon I know I am not allowed to provide medical advice so please don't take this as medical advice. I have been prescribed Gabapentin (which was originally an anti-epileptic drug) twice in my life: Once for Bipolar Disorder as a mood stabilizer until the medical community decided it was not effective for that usage; Once for nerve pain--it did nothing, no relief at all (but that is just my experience and may not apply to everyone). Recently, I read a medical article that questioned the safety of this drug. I know we all take medications that have many possible long-term bad side-effects, it is a quality of life decision, but given that gabapentin did not help me either time it was prescribed, I decided I would not be willing to take this drug again. Let me also tell you, and again this was only my experience, but when I took it regularly prescribed as a mood stabilizer I found I would often fall when I got out of bed at night. I consulted a doctor about this thinking the falling may be a sign of a more serious disease, and he told me that he would blame the gabapentin before suspecting another illness. I have not fallen when getting out of bed since I quit gabapentin many years ago. I was recently (as in about 3 years ago) tested for MS at the Mayo Clinic due to an abnormal brain MRI, and the test came back negative. I will not advise you whether or not to take it, only you and your doctor should make this decision. I just felt I should share my experience for your consideration. Neuropathy and chronic pain are no fun, so we each have to make the choice that we believe is best for our situation. I also take medications that cause daytime sleepiness and that is miserable too, so it is definitely a trade off.

Just curious, you don't have to answer. Is your neuropathy due to Diabetes? I think I may as a recently diagnosed Diabetic be experiencing some neuropathy.

I have intense pain all day and nigh from neuropathy toes to thigh and now my fingers. I have tried the normal ones, and Lyrica gives me the most relief with the least side effects. Gabapentin did nothing, Cymbalta took my short term memory and Lyrica works well with just a little dizziness, I tried Nucynta, which worked very well, but I felt completely numb. My doctors recommend medical marijuana to help me tolerate pain better, but I have not made that move. Tramadol does not bother me at all and does help the pain—it just seems like taking a stronger ibuprofen. Are the neurologists helping you? I have given up on them and have not needing the Pain doctor, because my podiatrist prescribes exactly the same treatments. I do find that stretching throughout the day dulls foot and ankle pain.