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Cutting the Nerve during an MVD ?

Consulted my neurosurgeon to schedule MVD for Atypical TN...during our meeting I asked him if he did not find a blood vessel attached to a nerve what then? He said if he would "cut the nerve"....I was quite full of tegretol during the meeting and I did not clarify exactly what he meant...does anyone out there know what he means..I am going to either phone or email him for clarification.....but maybe someone with experience knows something I should know.... Vic in San Diego

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Vic Maidhof on July 13, 2010 at 10:59am

Hi Liz...It is tough to decide...I had gamma knife and four balloon/glercerol treatments...my tri-nerve probably looks like the turf at del mar race track after a day of horse races...now they want to poke a hole in my head...maybe I will just sit back and keep taking drugs for awhile longer...the last several days have been pretty good to me...how about you kid..? You sure help lots of people on this site with your informative comments..you are an angel...

Liz K. said:

Vic,
My neuro told me that if he didn't find a compression, he would pad the nerve anyway. He did not say he would cut the nerve. Having so many different opinions from surgeons and different treatment options is what makes it so difficult to choose a treatment.
Liz

Permalink Reply by Claire on July 13, 2010 at 11:59am

Hi Vi c, Hope today is a little bit better - don't be afraid of MVD. I remember trying to answer the "sandman's" question & the next thing I was in Neuro ICU talking to 2 of my friends. No pain ever from the incision (which was never covered) no nausea, no dizziness - surgery started 8:30am & I was eating a giant fruit plate at 6pm & drinking "Canada Dry" - God I was thirsty Walked around ICU that night & 3 trips around the next day (Thur) Went home Fri morning. Their exact words - We're not doing anything for you here Do you want to go home? I replied YES. was released right from ICU ( damn near unheard of) Dropped off @ home - talked to my cat for about 30 min & then got in my car & went to see the girls I worked with( neck just a little stiff) Have been doing every & anything I wanted ever since. The morphine withdrawal was the pits (again - 1st time 5years ago) but that's over too I take nothing related to TN!!!!

Permalink Reply by Vic Maidhof on July 13, 2010 at 9:17pm

Hi Claire, you give me more courage then you know..your experience literally brings tears to my eyes as only those of us who experienced tn can relate....I have been on the fence for a few days about the mvd surgery..one day I am going to do it and next Im not...it is really nice to hear a success story like this....now Im ready for the drill bit again...I go in the 23rd at 5 am and they drill me at 7:20am......kindest regards from Vic in San Diego

Claire said:

Hi Vi c, Hope today is a little bit better - don't be afraid of MVD. I remember trying to answer the "sandman's" question & the next thing I was in Neuro ICU talking to 2 of my friends. No pain ever from the incision (which was never covered) no nausea, no dizziness - surgery started 8:30am & I was eating a giant fruit plate at 6pm & drinking "Canada Dry" - God I was thirsty Walked around ICU that night & 3 trips around the next day (Thur) Went home Fri morning. Their exact words - We're not doing anything for you here Do you want to go home? I replied YES. was released right from ICU ( damn near unheard of) Dropped off @ home - talked to my cat for about 30 min & then got in my car & went to see the girls I worked with( neck just a little stiff) Have been doing every & anything I wanted ever since. The morphine withdrawal was the pits (again - 1st time 5years ago) but that's over too I take nothing related to TN!!!!

Permalink Reply by Liz K. on July 13, 2010 at 10:54pm

Hi Vic,
Thanks for your nice comment. Glad your last few days have been better. Some of my days have been "worse." I don't want to say bad. But I am getting more of them. I am still considering trying the MVD again. I hope I can wait until the first of the year. I hope you have an outcome just like Claire's, no complications and pain free. My MVD surgery was also very easy, in and out of the hospital in 48 hours.
Liz

Vic Maidhof said:

Hi Liz...It is tough to decide...I had gamma knife and four balloon/glercerol treatments...my tri-nerve probably looks like the turf at del mar race track after a day of horse races...now they want to poke a hole in my head...maybe I will just sit back and keep taking drugs for awhile longer...the last several days have been pretty good to me...how about you kid..? You sure help lots of people on this site with your informative comments..you are an angel...

Liz K. said:
Vic,
My neuro told me that if he didn't find a compression, he would pad the nerve anyway. He did not say he would cut the nerve. Having so many different opinions from surgeons and different treatment options is what makes it so difficult to choose a treatment.
Liz

Permalink Reply by Ms.MolnerVT on February 9, 2011 at 1:30pm

I have heard in some instances when the TN does not involve a blood vessel touching the nerve, that as a last resort they will simple cut the trigeminal nerve itself. I'm not sure if that is the case here, but I have talked to someone who had this procedure and she lost all feeling to that side of her face. She is content with it, as her pain was to the point where she simply could not stand it anymore. I would most definitely get a step by step description and after effects from the surgeon.