We are patients living with Trigeminal Neuralgia, here for your support.

MVD in Dec. '08' TN Back w/Vengeance!!!

Was completely pain free for 6 months and then minor aches/pains for the rest of the time except recently.

Couple of months ago I started having more face pain so I went to the doctor to rule out any other cause. No other causes, just TN. Darnit!

7 days ago... worst pain since before my surgery! I would rather give birth to a 10 lb. baby every day than experience this!

Went to doctor yesterday as I've been having pain every day, all day and it is intense! I'm already taking Lyrica 225 mg. twice a day and Baclofen 10 mg. three times a day as well as 600 mg. Advil three times per day and Psuedaphed like they are skittles... Advil & Psuedaphed to no avail; it helps a little.

Doctor gave me some Vicodin to help, but not for long. She only gave me ten tablets. I'm cutting them in half so it makes the pain tolerable; about a 6 - 7 on the pain scale. So some releif.

I can't believe this is happening again!

I just recovered from another surgery, (ankle) and then during the recovery period I fractured my ankle so the recovery was very long. I was looking forward to getting back to work and going back to school. I'm enrolled in college full-time this Summer quarter and now, with the TN, it is very difficult to focus. I am determined to persevere! It's difficult when I keep getting hit in the face with an electric bat!

When it gets real bad I think about going to the ER, but WHY? They don't know what to do!

I don't know what to do... what to ask for... where to go... I just want off this ride!!!

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Permalink Reply by Richard A. "Red" Lawhern on July 22, 2011 at 8:05pm

Hi, Kimberley

Baclofen is a muscle relaxant and Lyrica is often prescribed for Fibromyalgia or generalized neuropathic conditions. However, I do not hear mention of any of the anti-seizure meds which are often regarded as the first line of defense in TN. Was there a reason why nobody prescribed Tegretol, Trileptal, or Neurontin? Likewise, has anybody tried you on one of the tricyclic antidepressants? They are co-active against atypical TN as well as depression. Advil and Pseudopfed are not generally considered effective at all in this type of pain.

In your situation, I would recommend contacting the MVD surgeon for an consult, ASAP. Second operations with MVD are done all the time when pain returns as it has in your case, and they are often effective.

Regards and best

R.A."Red" Lawhern, Ph.D

Resident Research Analyst, LwTN

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Permalink Reply by Kimberley Bauman on July 22, 2011 at 9:22pm

Hi Red,

I can not take Neurontin as of the side effects. I was on Tegretol the first time with TN with some success, but I had to increase my dose on a regular basis due to break through pain and the side effects from the Tegretol became unbearable due to the higher dosage. I have not been on Trileptal, I will speak to my doctor about this. I have been on a number of tricyclic antidepressants like nortriptyline and amatriptyline with no relief noted.

The first time around with TN when the side effects from the anti-convulsants became unbearable is when the doctors decided it was time to do the MVD. I will contact the surgeon and ask for a consult.

Thank you for your response.

Kimberley Bauman