I agree with Dakota. I've been using the Duragesic Patch (now the generic patches) system since 1-9-02 and they changed my life of pain misery to one of almost normalcy. I've had PN for over 21 years and nothing helped the pain until I started using the Duragesic Patches in 2002. They relieved my constant pain levels of 7 to 10 down to a modest 2 - 4 which I have become accustomed to and hardly notice anymore. I'm using one 100 strength patch and one 25 strength patch and changing them every 48 hours. I drive my car without incident and even walk a mile or two each day. My hands are steady and I have full control of all my faculties. Though these patches contain the strong narcotic, Fentanyl, they have never caused me any kind of 'high' or feeling of being 'on drugs'. The ONLY thing I feel from these patches is relief from the chronic pain - something that none of the other PN meds ever achieved. So, if nothing else is really helping, give this medication a try. They don't always work for everyone but they sure have worked for me.
Good luck and God bless.

If one can't use opiates, one can't use fentanyl. One is confined to using tricyclics, the gaba drugs, or SSRIs, SNRIs or something like that...or OTC stuff that doesn't really work all that well. It is difficult quandry. But, yes, if you can use fentanyl it does work for chronic pain and docs prefer it because if you are prescribed fentanyl, you really can't abuse it. Coming off fentanyl is a bear....only thing harder is the benzo's.

I am wondering, have you tried anything alternative?? Accupuncture, accupressure?

OK, I must have been on drugs too long. Why am I replying to a post from 2007? Eeeesh....maybe my blood sugar is low or something.