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Neurontin is a common treatment for people with neuropathic pain, which tends to respond poorly to traditional pain medications. Arthritis can cause nociceptive pain (the more common form of pain) through joint inflammation, but it can also cause neuropathic pain when degenerative changes in the spine compress or irritate nerve roots exiting the spine.   You should inform your doctor if neurontin hasn't provided any pain relief. He or she may recommend you try it a little longer (depending on how long it has been) because sometimes the full effect isn't achieved for weeks. Your doctor may also want to add another agent because neuropathic pain often responds better to a combination of pain medications rather than just one drug.   Medications used to treat neuropathic pain include neurontin and the following:   Antidepressants   Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs- nortriptyline, desipramine, Amitriptyline), SSNRI antidepressants (selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors- duloxetine and venlafaxine) Anticonvulsants (neurontin, lamotrigine) Topical anesthetics (lidocaine patches) Antiarrhythmics (mexiletine) Opioid analgesics (tramadol, morphine, fentanyl) *Tramadol actually combines the effects of TCAs with opioid analgesia and tends to be well received by patients.