No, topical stuff doesnt help at all for me either. A tens machine is much better than that. Im in the UK, and cannabis only covers certain conditions just now, so I joined a big project aiming to gather evidence for the NHS, so hopefully it will be free soon. For now I am paying for it, and it’s working out to be about £150 to £200 a month on a private prescription. I am forced to use a wheelchair when out of the house, to demonstrate how severe my pain gets. If I were you, I would try a tens machine first. You can get a really good one for £40 plus electrodes. This will give you a guide as to whether acupuncture will work on you as the body responds similarly to both, and is ineffective on 30% of people. It can also wear off in another 20%, so I find it best to do it for shorter periods and then rest instead of using it every day.

Sorry to hear your state has not adopted enlightened policies. Medical and recreational cannabis, for me, has been the more effective pain reliever, much better than medications such as Cymbalta or Gabapentin. Alas, it is a double-edged sword for PN sufferers with severe imbalance issues. I'm still looking for a silver bullet.