chronic, disabling nerve pain in arms and legs [View all]

We have a good friend just cancel (again) on us for dinner due to this disabling condition. My questions are:

*Is there no drug he can take to alleviate this pain? He says no. I have nerve pain caused by post herpetic neuralgia myself (not his situation) and I take Gabopentin with success.

*Has his doctor checked him out for possible nerve damage? He was a plumber for 30 years, can that cause disabling nerve pain?

*Is a neurologist the specialist he should be seeing for this?

*Has he been checked for other causes of nerve pain?

He has great health insurance so I know he has enough coverage. When he feels better (this condition comes and goes) I plan to ask him these questions...he lives alone and we worry about him...