Neuropathy Medication Not Working? Do This Instead

📌 Learn more about Dr. Rao's integrative approach: https://www.raowellness.com If your feet burn so badly at night that the sheets hurt, and your hands go numb for no clear reason, and Gabapentin or Lyrica isn't touching it, this episode is for you. There's a specific reason that medication isn't working, and it has nothing to do with the dose. It comes down to a test that was supposed to happen before the prescription was ever written. Most patients get handed a prescription at their first visit, and when it fails, they get a higher dose instead of an actual answer. That cycle can go on for years while the real cause of the nerve damage never gets identified or treated. In this episode, I'm going to explain why neuropathy medication fails, what tests get skipped, and exactly what to ask your doctor to get answers. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Neuropathy Medication Not Working? Do This Instead 0:38 The sentence I hear from every patient 1:05 Why doctors prescribe without testing first 1:39 Neuropathy is not one condition 2:31 Why primary care never runs this workup 2:47 The rock and a hard place cycle 3:22 The 3 tests a real workup requires 4:17 Small fiber neuropathy explained 5:06 Watch out for costly clinic sales tactics 6:05 The 3 questions to ask your doctor ❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED Q: Why doesn't Gabapentin or Lyrica work for my neuropathy? A: These medications only work well for certain types of nerve damage, mainly large fiber issues. Without testing which type you actually have, you end up with the side effects like fatigue and brain fog but little to no pain relief. Q: What tests confirm the type of neuropathy I have? A: A real workup includes a TM flow test for blood flow and autonomic function, an EMG nerve conduction study for large nerve fibers, and a skin biopsy to check for small fiber neuropathy. Together they show exactly which nerves are damaged and why, instead of guessing based on symptoms alone. Q: Why didn't my doctor order these neuropathy tests? A: Primary care visits are built to match symptoms to a prescription quickly, not to run a full nerve workup that takes time and specialized equipment. That kind of testing usually requires a referral to a neurologist or pain specialist that many patients are never told about, so they stay stuck on medication that was never matched to their actual condition. 📱 RESOURCES Website: https://www.raowellness.com 🔔 Subscribe for honest, clinically grounded answers on chronic pain, regenerative medicine, and longevity from a doctor who has spent 20 years on the front lines. ABOUT DR. SUDHIR RAO: I'm Dr. Sudhir Rao, triple board-certified in anesthesiology, pain medicine, and functional medicine. Over 20 years and more than 50,000 patients, I've seen what actually moves the needle for people living with chronic pain. My practice combines precision diagnostics with targeted, integrated treatment to help patients stop managing symptoms and start getting to root cause. Learn more at https://www.raowellness.com. #chronicpain #chronicpainrelief #functionalmedicine #painmanagement #longevity