Why wont the doctors do anything.they think its this they think its that but wont send me for any tests they have said they THINK its nerve related so why not send me for an mri or a nerve conduction test so the problem can be found and sorted its so frustrating im in agony daily.
You have to keep on pushing or else they just fob you off. I have RA and my nerve pain has been much more of a problem over the past few years. My rheumatologist refused to investigate saying it was just a mild small fiber neuropathy. I did finally persuade the GP to get it investigated by a neurologist - had the full battery of tests including a lumbar puncture but came away none the wiser - neuro also decided it was a mild small fiber neuropathy so not much benefit to tests in my case. Doesn't mean you shouldn't be investigated though as things such as MS and nerve compression or immune mediated neuropathies should all be ruled out once the GP has checked for the more obvious reasons such as osteoarthritis, diabetes and pernicous anaema first.
Hi Zoe
Ask to be referred to a Neurologist. I had to pay privately for it but at least I got an answer
I felt the same for a few years, I was in constant pain and finally got them to refer me to a neurologist. I have had a nerve conduction test but that didn't show anything so they sent me for an MRI. I'm back at the hospital in a couple of weeks so will see what the results of that are then. Treatment is trial and error, I'm on pregablin now which is working but suffering some side effects. Are you on medication that could be causing the pain? Maybe try a different doctor. I know how frustrating it is. I found it hard to explain the pain to my dr and felt like it seemed as if I was making it up. I hope you someone to listen to you soon, it's awful to suffer
Thanks so much for all your advice i really appreciate it will defo be seeing if i can get a referal. I too am on pregabalin 150mg a day and its having no.effect what so ever.
Hi zoe, I've been for alsorts of tests in the past and sometimes they just cant find the reason for your nerve pain,I have been in so much pain in the past and cant get an appointment with the dr even when I went to the pain clinic in the hospital I had to lay across 2 chairs as I couldnt sit and no one said a word,my point is theres not alot of understanding with people with our pain if they cant see your illness its not real pain, the moral to this story is whether you like it or not is to exaggerate your pain it seems wrong but thats the only way they will help you.i hope you get sorted as I think nerve pain is the worse as it messes with your head,the best thing to do while waiting to get the right treatment is to talk and keep talking even on here , try to have a nice weekend. 
has your dr said you can increase the dose? I'm upto 300mg at night which allows me to sleep as the pain was horrendous at night. I'm supposed to take the same during the day but I sometimes take less as 300mg really does exhaust me and I just can't function. I take atleast 150mg, it all depends on what I have to do. Where do you have the pain?
Dave, sorry to hear your experience but mine has been completely different now I've been listened to. I'm in the system now and they are doing everything they can to help me. Where abouts are you> Have you thought about moving to a different hospital?
Hi Zoe they have put me on 1800 mg of Gabapentin and 600mg of duloxotin a day which has helped a lot with my nerve pain apart with some break through so there are drugs that can help, although you can get annoyed when they can't find any cause for it.
Where is the pain coming from Zoe ?
I'm in the same position as you and I've had a MRI scan came back with DDD l5 SI joint
They won't do anything numbness in feet legs and toes now I'm going to see a foot specialist I live on painkillers and amitripyline
No for some reason she wont increase my dose which she did not explain why.
Awww thanks dave its nice to hear im not alone.
All my pain is in my upper body arms neck and back but the hardest to deal with is the pain in my chest its so worrying may ask to switch back to amitriptyline maybe i didnt give it enough time because the pregabalin isnt working at all.
I would push that, my pan is only (it sounds like I'm making light of mine) in my hands, feet, legs and arms so is different from yours but these do seem to be doing the trick. Have you any other health issues that could be causing the pain. I have and the medication I take for it can cause the neuropathy but nothing I can do about that. I am going to ask for a referral to the pain clinic when I see the neurologist as the side effcects for me aren't great. It seems like everyone I have chatted to has different side effect or none at all. How are you sleeping?
How long have you been on the pregablin? I know it's down to trial and error to work out what works for us but it has worked for me. I would be going up the wall without it
I sleep not to bad as it happens so im probably one of the lucky ones really.
Iv been on the pregabalin about 6 weeks now.
yeah definitely, do you take the 150mg in one go? listen to me, like I know everything about neuropathy
Lol no one in the morning one in the evening.
I know the dr hasn't told you to do it but why not try to take the 2 during the day if you're not having problems sleeping, it may help