For information on Type 1 and Type 2 Trigeminal Neuralgia see
Fact Sheet

Ben's Friends Survey of Patients Referred to Psychiatrists and Psychologists. 

The Ben's Friends support communities conducted a survey in February 2013.  We wanted to learn about your experiences (positive and negative), if you have been sent by a medical doctor to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional.  Detailed results of this survey are now posted for Ben's Friends membership and the public.  A summary of findings was published in the blog of Dr Allen Frances, MD, on Psychology Today

Your voices are being heard.  A groundswell of protest is being registered by patients and psychiatric professionals alike, against publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association.  For more on this controversy, feel free to visit "Patients Are Making a Difference".   [Last Update May 17, 2013]

UCLA Webinar on Face Pain

Dr. Neil Martin, Chairman of ULCA Neurosurgery will be hosting the webinar - Facial Pain - Diagnosis, Treatments and Latest Advancements - on Monday, May 20 at 12 pm PT. Registration information is listed below.

Learn about facial pain diagnosis, treatments and latest advancement from UCLA expert, Dr. Neil Martin, Chairman of UCLA Neurosurgery.

Register for the live-streaming webinar and join the conversation on Twitter at @UCLAHealth with hashtag #UCLAMDChat to ask Dr. Martin questions.

When: May 20, 2013

Time: 12:00 pm PST

Register: http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=173&action=detail&ref=2240

Help spread the word about our newest communities by sharing on your Facebook wall: Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis, ADD, Amyloidosis, Disabilities, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Fabry, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Lyme Disease,  Myositis, Narcolepsy, Nephrotic Syndrome, Sjogren's Syndrome,  Traumatic Brain Injury, Von Willebrand's Disease.

If you or a loved one is suffering from Trigeminal Neuralgia, this is the place for you. We are here for information, support, and friendship!

*Please keep in mind we are not doctors and don't treat TN. We are here for comfort and support. You should be consulting a doctor for treatment and advice.

**For members in the United States, IF YOU ARE THINKING OF SUICIDE AND IN IMMEDIATE NEED OF HELP, please feel free to call 1-800-273-TALK to get a referral.   For international members, please visit  http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html for information on where to call in your country.

Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, phenytoin, or gabapentin are overall the most effective medications for TN.  Anti-convulsant effects may be potentiated with moderate to high levels of adjuvant therapies such as baclofen and/or clonazepam. Baclofen may also help some patients eat more normally if jaw movement tends to aggravate the symptoms.

Low doses of some antidepressants are known to be effective in treating neuropathic pain and atypical trigeminal neuralgia.  These drugs have been acknowledged in practice standards advocated by such organizations as the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

Botox can be injected into the nerve by a physician, and has been found helpful using the "migraine" pattern adapted to the patient's special needs. Stellate ganglion block or other nerve blocks with Lidocaine, Xilocaine, or cortico-steroids are also used for short-term relief.  Some patients may also find relief by having their neurologist implant a neuro-stimulator.

If anticonvulsants do not help and surgical options have failed or are ruled out, the pain may be treated long-term with an opioid such as methadone, oxycodone or Duragesic in patch form. Opiate-based analgesics are not effective for many patients, but may be helpful for others. Opioid drugs do not directly address the neurological mechanisms which cause TN attacks, but may decrease the pain sensation that is experienced by the patient.

Many patients cannot tolerate medications for years with acceptable side effects.  An alternative treatment is to take a drug such as gabapentin in an externally applied cream base, after processing by a pharmacist who compounds drugs. .

For extended information - click here.
Or
TNA Information

or select the "Face Pain Info" tab in the top menu of any page on the site.

Reminder: unless a person states otherwise, we are not doctors but do have the same goals. Always consult your doctor about medications.

Disclaimer

This site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or replace the service of your physician, but solely to provide information to help enable you to make informed decisions about your health care, with the guidance of licensed health care professionals.