> I have a prescription for hydrocodone, but rarely use it,
> as it gives me tension headaches.

Me too. I only use that during really bad flare-ups, and only at night so I can sleep because it really knocks me out. It also gives me hallucinations before it knocks me out. The first time I took it, I was nearly passed out on the bed when our cat jumped onto the foot of the bed. For the first few seconds I looked at her, I could have sworn it was a chimpanzee... Things like that can't possibly be good for you! I'll never understand how people get addicted to feeling like that...

> I have been thinking of seeking alternatives lately,
> any ideas on what to start with?

Well, as I said in my original post, the only thing I've found so far that seems to have helped me with the sharp nerve pains at all has been chiropractic adjustments. Nerve pain is what they specialize in, even though they don't usually treat it in the area where we have it. I figured I didn't have anything to lose. My chiropractor has been very understanding and sympathetic. He's the only one who hasn't told me I'm crazy and has offered me more than just antibiotics and painkillers. And since he knows I'm out of work because of this, he's only charging me for half of my office visits.

Like I said though, the way he stimulates the lower spinal nerves to "keep them awake" can cause a temporary increase in pain for a few days. I almost stopped going back because of that, but my instincts said I should stick with it, and it does seem to help. Yesterday was the first time in *months* that I actually had a few periods where I was pain-free! (Today's been a different story though...) :-(

Such is life on the rollercoaster of pain!