I'd like to add, Icelander, that when I had shingles, I found hydrocodone to be nicely effective on my other nerve pain as well. I didn't bother asking about it, and I will briefly explain why.

I have diagnosed moderately severe diabetic polyneuropathy. It started out in the mild camp. Despite this, when mentioning that my pain was more severe and that research pointed toward a drug expressly indicated for said condition I was told, "you don't want that, it is the same class as hydrocodone."

So that is my short story on that. I am not sure why I am blanking on the name - tapendatol?- of the drug, it is a stronger form of tramadol, which is why I thought it would be a decent idea for me. I thought tramadol was waning in effect- it is, I think but it is obviously doing something.... because I am walking around like I have an extra decade or so on me... or I think I have been placed in a mine field. Perhaps both.