Hello painpatient, and welcome to SoberRecovery
Freedom pretty much covered it. Yes, there tons of other medications that will help with chronic pain. I take one called "Depakote" that is similar to Neurontin. Yes there's other things to do besides medication that help with pain, I do yoga. Yes, there are medications that counteract the sleepiness of pain meds, I take ProVigil.
Basically, people that have short term pain can take just one medication for a short while. Chronic pain requires a "recipe" of medications and treatments that balance each other so we can be on them for the rest of our lives. Any one medication by itself is going to have side effects that add up and eventually cause more harm than good. That's why there are doctors that specialize in chronic pain management and even clinics just for that purpose.
I tell my doctors the whole truth. I tell them that I want to be on as _low_ a dose as possible, as _few_ meds as possible, and that the ultimate goal is to keep me functioning at a level where I can keep my job. Otherwise I won't be able to pay their bill
As far as weaning yourself off, my suggestion is you continue to take the meds prescribed by your previous doctor, exactly as prescribed. Changing dosages or meds on your own can cause all kinds of unexpected side effects, never mind that you are in pain.
Come back and let us know what your new doctor says.
Mike