My rheum prescribed me elavil upon my neuropathy diagnosis. I accepted, because over the past 4 years I have grown increasingly depressed (I believe due to my health problems and OCD).

In the 2 weeks I have been on elavil, things have greatly improved. I can walk more, can wear my shoes (sneakers with orthotics only) and am not getting burning. I am still getting coldness, which attacks my feet entirely and travels up my ankles. And I'm getting occasional tingly spots on my right cheek, plus weak feeling in my knees. At times my hip is weak (has happened my whole life). My chiro has adjusted my feet twice a week and I have gotten custom orthotics. My neuroma seems to be getting much better. My fingers have been getting Raynaud's attacks more severely recently, in grocery stores.

What exactly does elavil do? Does it just mask the symptoms? Do seratonin levels affect neuropathy, meaning, if I was depressed and had severe problems with seratonin would that cause neuropathy or make it worse? When I get numb from coldness, am I actually cold? Or are these phantom feelings? I'm a little confused about which of my symptoms are neuropathy, or blood vessel related (podiatrist thinks I have a vascular element). Also not sure if I should go to neurologist first or vascular specialist. And will elavil cover up anything test-related?

Thanks!