Small fiber neuropathy & Elavil

Welcome Joey to CP and sorry your dealing with any kind of Neuropathy and regardless of the type none of them are very comfortable or easily treated. Unfortunately nerve cells do not generate or regenerate as any other cells do. Those long hair or fingerlike projections stemming from the body of a nerve cell transmit nerve impulse and when they get irritated, damaged or destroyed it skews the impulse transmission and the results are pain horrible burning, irritated pain. Some never heal or repair themselves but may manage to reattach at some future point. The opiates and narcotics are generally useless for this type pain since it doesn't work directly on the nerve centers rather blocks the impulse to the brain and because of the nature of damaged nerves thats not where the impulse is showing up but rather on the surface where the damage has occurred, in this case your thigh.

The nerve meds are tricky and most of us have to try them on so to speak to find a good fit. Neurontin works for many not at all for others, same with cymbalta and lyrica, elavil is used off label with some success. I have tried all and ended with lyrica since it works better with less side effects for me. Unfortunately it takes months sometimes to titrate to a levels that is adequate and this type of pain may never completely go away and we get to the best point we can using whatever treatment we can get even a small amount of relief from. Most folks here use many things in conjunction with meds such as hydrotherapy, gels, distraction therapy, pt, holistic meds and approaches and injections and nerve ablation and blocks and this may be something they can offer you should you find the meds don't help at all.

Others will likely have more ideas but wanted to say Hi and welcome.