I know the strife and stress you've been going thru must be taking its toll on your system. It is of no help to say,
'try to stay calm and relieve stress as much as possible',
but I've found that 100mgs of Trmadol 4x/day does wonders for me
(I haven't tried the SR).
I also try a form of meditiation as well, my own way to try to
calm my system down and relax - starting from the top of my head
to the bottoms of my feet.
I work my way down, methodically while mentally using a silly pseudo-chant
(from my Hippie days in the '60's) that makes me inwardly smile
and also has a calming effect on me.
I also do this before having my BP taken at the doc's office
(cause I'm usually in a rush and frazzled by the time I get there,
and know my BP is elevated- I also have 'White Coat Syndrome")
and it seems to help.
My doc always takes my BP after we meet, and its always lower
than the nurse's results 30 mins earlier.
Lyrica (you said you take it) is also supposed to have some sort of mood elevator effect,
and has definitely given me a different outlook (altho it is constipating) as well as has been the most effective med for my PN symptoms.
I switched entirely off Neurontin (4200mgs/day) to Lyrica (600mgs/day)
and have better pain & symptom control using Lyrica & Tramadol
as the only PN meds I take.
My B12 methylcobalamin has made my B12 levels stay constantly at around 1200,
and I think that also contributes to my pain control success.
I take other suppliments- CoQ10, ALA, Fish Oil, P-5-P, B 50 complex, etc.
All seem to contribute to the total package- but I really couldn't
say that any one is the 'magic' to use exclusively.
Its taken me 7 years of searching for empathetic docs
(willing to accept me as an equal, and work with me- not against me), and changing meds
..... and stopping being frantic, hysterical & angry, but accepting the fact
that I have PN - and I refuse to give in to it.
Acceptance is not defeat.
It is a realization that I have a chronic condition that has
no cure as of yet, but I can search out how to make my life
as pain-free, 'normal' & acceptable to me.
Something I can live with.
Personally, I think my current success (I realize it may only be
for the moment- the Neurontin stopped working, and it took
over a year to try different meds until Lyrica was approved
and put on the market) is due to my setting priorities as to
how to accomplish it.
Priorities as to what is most important to me, and how to
accomplish it -logically, doggedly, reasonably & calmly.
Not an easy task when in pain.
Advice? I really have none, now.
Just suggestions and my experiences.