Trigeminal Neuralgia

[livingwith]

I have dipped snuff for about six years and one day I started to feel a slight pressure type pain in my left bottom and top jaw which extended into my cheek and up to my left temple. This scared me so I quit dipping. The pain became progressively worse and I finally went to a dentist who thought it was a bad tooth. He took X-rays and found nothing. I then scheduled an appointment with my doctor and after several visits and pain medications later, I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.
I hav...Read the full article

[silverjim]

I know this sounds horrible but it was a blessing that you were diagnosed so quickly. Many, including myself, suffer for years before finding a doctor who makes the correct diagnosis. I say blessed because it enables you to begin treatment. I currently take Lyrica 150mg twice daily and I am in PAIN MANAGEMENT. My pain management doctor is a total A hole but he knows how to treat TN. He injects my Trigeminal Nerve with Cortisone approx. every 6 wks. Life becomes normal during this time. I still get Trigeminal Migraines though. For me, a shot of Nubain 15mg with Vistaril aborts the migraine. I have to go to the doctor to get this shot. Nubain is not a controlled substance but it is only available through injection. For this reason most doctors are reluctant to prescribe self care with Nubain. The condition is miserable but I have found that in the hands of a doctor who understands the condition and how to treat it, life is still worth living.

[kazz]

I was just diagnosed as well, i am on lyrica which worked for 2 weeks then I incresed dosage and no pain for now. I am trying to get to a nerologist to hopefully get treatment other than pain medicine. I want to go for the long term cure with injections or surgery which ever works. Im sorry I dont have any answers to you as a newcomer since I am in the same boat. However, I think going directly to the source of a cure or as close to a cure treatment is the way to go. Ohterwise doctors will keep giving us pills and we will build up an immunity to them and have other problems from the side effects the pills give us. It's certainly exhuasting to deal with. If you find out any treatment that works let us know...
Ingrid