Two things work for me. At one point my MP in my right thigh was
the pits. Like 100 bee stings when it went off. The times it is numb I consider
improvements. I have had this since a C-Section (the long mid-abdominal incision) which was also an exploratory looking for a "tumor" which the doctors
thought I had.

I have had marked improvements with Lidoderm patches, which for me
seem to put the nerve to sleep. So I don't need them as often as before.
I had results in 2 weeks or so. But I still keep them on hand.

The other thing I do is alot of is supplements. EFAs, and esp Thiamine for my feet. I think the high dose thiamine helps with the MP nerve too.
I use 200mg at bedtime. Thiamine is B1 and is an old stand-by remedy for
neuropathy..it still works, and is inexpensive, and benign.

I have never used opiates or Neurontin or other "drugs" for it. So I cannot comment on them.

One thing that makes my MP act up is heat...so no steam room at the gym and avoidance of hot baths (which I love) helps also. Certain types of stretching of the leg will also set it off, so I cannot do vertical bikes for exercise. But I can do the recumbent with moderation, and the ellipitical is easier than the treadmill for me.