Like many here I try not to harp on unduly about the awful side effects of drugs because I know I'm unusually intolerant and don't want to put people off drugs that may well help them tremendously. In my experience of pain - whether neuropathic, joint, headache or GI or other - it is very subjective so what one person can tolerate is very different to another. I have had three babies, two very large, and only had a bit of gas and air for one of them - the other two were both born the wrong way round and it was exceptionally painful. So I think I have quite a high pain threshold but a very low one for tolerating drugs - whether they affect my skin, my hair, my tummy or my mood - I hate feeling that I'm poisoning my body - try as I have to see these drugs as my magic potions.

For me the best of the nerve pain symptomatic drugs was Amitriptyline which I took for three years. I discovered by accident (forgot to take them away with me!) one day that it was causing the heart palpitations which were pretty
heavy going so I just had to stop.

I have a conflict here because I wouldn't want anyone to be in pain unnecessarily but some of the drugs I've been prescribed have been very problematic - swelling of the face and neck and ears, awful red itchy rashes, nausea and sickness both ends 24/7, drunken dizziness and anger, nose bleeds, hives - you name it I've suffered from it. One Parkinson's drug I was tried on for RLS had me falling asleep on the middle of a beach in the rain while walking the dogs! So I wouldn't know where to start with advising you - this wouldn't be appropriate I feel as these drugs are well tolerated and very helpful to many. It's not that I'm not in pain - it's just that the way I respond to pain might be very different to the way you do.