In alternative embodiments, provided are methods for increasing levels of and/or upregulating the expression of ApoA-I Binding Protein (APOA1BP, AIBP, or AI-BP) to treat, ameliorate, prevent, reverse, decrease the severity or duration of: a neuropathic pain, including an inflammation-induced neuropathic pain, a nerve or CNS inflammation, a, a post nerve injury pain, a post-surgical pain, a chemotherapeutic-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) (e.g., cisplatin-induced allodynia) a neurodegeneration or neurodegenerative disease or condition, a migraine, and/or a hyperalgesia. In alternative embodiments, provided are methods comprising administering formulations and pharmaceutical compositions comprising an APOA1BP polypeptide or protein that is a human or a mammalian APOA1BP, or an AIBP1 or an AIBP2, or a recombinant, peptidomimetic or a synthetic APOA1BP, or a bioisostere of an ApoA-I Binding Protein to treat, ameliorate prevent, reverse, decrease the severity of a neuropathic pain, a TLR4-mediated allodynia and/or a hyperalgesia.