You can do up to 2000 IU Vit D3 yourself without testing, according to research results today. We have had posters improve with less pain who improved Vit D3 status. Any higher dose should be based on testing results.

If your doctor will not test you, there is internet testing which is not expensive:
http://www.grassrootshealth.net/
near the bottom of the first page is the testing info.

Vit D has shown promise in reducing pain. It will also help with calcium and magnesium absorption from food.
This link discusses chronic pain and Vit D.
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management...onic-pain-link
You can find other links by searching Google too.

Magnesium is an NMDA receptor antagonist. This is the pain receptors that often get over stimulated by MSG, glutamate and aspartate. Calcium imbalance also over stims this receptor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMDA_receptor_antagonist
Some of the drugs used to treat PN pain are in this category.
Memantine (Namenda) and DM both have RX versions.
Up to 70% of Americans are low in magnesium because of dietary habits.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NMDA_receptor_antagonist

You can try the new Morton's Epsom Lotion and see how well it works. I use it every day. Only $5.98 at WalMart. It is an easy way to get magnesium without taking pills. (which sometimes are laxative).
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-h...-epsom-lotion/
Apply only a quarter's diameter of the lotion on each foot/leg.
A little goes a long way. If you happen to have high blood pressure problems, this may reduce your high levels to more normal ones. So take your blood pressure to make sure your meds don't get too strong on you. I was on 3 strong doses of 3 drugs before using this lotion, and it now works so well for me, I only need the smallest dose of one--- a beta blocker.

Here is a recent thread on Vit D from one of our posters, whose calf pain went away on proper dosing:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread188739.html

I am sorry your doctor doesn't understand pain receptors. You will have to take up his slack I guess?

Here is a website with dietary suggestions to help you choose magnesium rich foods:
http://www.slowmag.com/
The supplement SlowMag is affordably priced at WalMart, and an easy way to take oral magnesium. One tablet twice a day is typically all one needs. (avoid magnesium oxide, as it is not absorbed and remains in the bowel, as a laxative). So if you want to take magnesium in pill form you need to read labels carefully, and it will cost more $$ than the new lotion version.

Magnesium, Vit D, and Vit B12 are the big three--- should be looked at carefully in all PNers before embarking on other supplements. All three of these are either ignored, or testing is poorly interpreted by doctors IF they test you at all. Magnesium in the "normal range" does not always reflect what is happening in the body. So tests for it are only useful in very very low or very very high serum test results.