I'm in my 20s, developed neuropathic pain after a local reaction to an infection.

Anyway, symptoms were: electric shocks, inflammation, stabbing, shooting, BUZZING, tingling, everything except burning.

Ami/Elavil took 3 and a half months to work for GENERAL PAIN.
I still had pain with touch, so I started LYRICA (thanks to my pain consultant at St Thomas hospital)...after 2 months on lyrica, I was 100% back to normal...In Fact, I even had surgery on the affected area and I still recovered very well, it didn't affect my progress.
I was on 300 mg a day, but I find 150 mg is enough for pain relief...
I am now successfully weaning off it because I understand there is a risk the body can develop resistance to such medications...I am on 75 a day now and it's going very well.

I don't know why it doesn't work for everyone, I wish it did.
For me, Lyrica was a very good medication...I do think however because I started pain medication one month after initial onset of symptoms it helped more....

get well everyone

PS. I would also like to point out that one needs to be very very patient, it takes a few months for these meds to start working