Gosh, I posted and seemed to lose it in the ether so just in case:

No, I'm using capsaicin cream which seems to work so I'm going to use it more often. And I just bought capsaicin pads online and may try lidocaine pads too.

What also helps me is B12 methylcobalamin 5mg which I pop like candy. There's a lady online who says she cured her neuropathy with high doses of B vitamins. I take extra magnesium because according to the US Department of Health over half of Americans are deficient. Magnesium relaxes me. And I used to exercise in the mornings for the endorphins which are a more powerful pain reliever than morphine, which did help so I will start exercising again. Thank you everyone for contributing to this forum and for helping me stay motivated.