Myofacial Pain/Sleep specialist

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Permalink Reply by Richard A. "Red" Lawhern on December 18, 2011 at 12:34pm

One precautionary note, if I may.  I don't want to seem overly critical of a provider from whom you believe you've gotten good care.  However, is the doctor board certified in neurology or sleep disorders?  Very few dentists have sufficient training to be safe prescribers of medicines commonly used in these largely separate fields.  And the training for managing sleep disorder is quite different from pain management or neurology.

Regards,

  Red

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Permalink Reply by D McGinnis on December 18, 2011 at 2:18pm

Red,

I don't know if he is board certified. He lectures all over the country on the effects of myofacial pain and sleep disorders caused by this pain - as well as the effect of sleep disorders on causing myofacial pain. He treats a number of TN patients also. As far as pain management, I have yet to find  a good doctor in the Denver area for this. My neuro is supposed to be a TN specialist, but his solution to my pain problem is a nerve block in my right cheek, which I understand results in numbness. Not to mention, it will also put me in more pain initially. I do not like any of the drugs for this, but I like less any kind of invasive procedure. I have never had any surgery and I am no spring chicken. Still have all my organs, including the tonsils. I just don't believe in surgery of any kind, so I'm stuck with drug treatment, but, yes, like everyone else, I am frustrated with all the side effects.

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard A. "Red" Lawhern on December 18, 2011 at 3:58pm

I don't want to be harsh with you, but I believe I must also speak with candor here, McGinnis. 

Whether you "believe in" surgery of any kind is simply not pertinent.  One of the things that trigeminal pain teaches all of us is that we do whatever we must do to find relief.  And we select between options based on demonstrated, documented peer-reviewed outcomes for other patients.  Surgery is one of the options for some people.  Nerve block also unfortunately has a very inconsistent record of usefulness.  More fundamentally, choosing a medical  care provider because their prejudices align with your own is unfortunately a well proven way to end up with more and worse pain.   So have a care, please.  The choices you are facing are consequential over the long term.

Go in Peace and Power

Red

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Permalink Reply by elaine48 on December 18, 2011 at 7:36pm

I wish we could find more of these specialists. its great, send him to florida,

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Permalink Reply by elstep on December 18, 2011 at 7:41pm

 B1 vitamin - benfotiamine, I guess this can do no harm?      I take combination  B vits now each day, I was thinking of B12  injections but I will look this up.       I know this is not proven, but if there is hope in them helping and they can do not harm  then I will try them.       

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