Jack, just keep in mind...
 

that YOU HAVE MADE A PLAN! That's Great!!!
Realize also that it can take up to 6 long weeks [yep] for a medication such as Lyrica to take effect. Should you feel it's not working...IT IS NOT a med to go cold turkey on...it affects all the synapses in your brain chemically [they don't know how-those 'vaulted researchers'] BUT they do know it can and does work. Should you feel it's not working, talk to your GP and any meds you take your GP must know about -in an emergency situation-heaven forbid...who's going to be there? Your GP...Then talk about alternatives and what they call 'titrations' -a tapering off of one med onto another...

In my own case, my primary pain med doc is my neurologist...mainly because he's best versed in all the s/e's of most pain meds for my CIDP. I do, tho, keep my GP up to date on any changes in meds -strangely I see the GP the least due to all my other conditions. Go figger.

Go hug your wife and kids, and count your blessings! You have lots of them I bet and you will have more as well. Sometimes blessings or good things in life are very small...even small things can mean a lot as there is beauty in them ...if you notice. - j

PS doesn't make the hurt any less or go away...but, it DOES take your mind away from it for a bit!