What are your triggers?
Posted , 12 users are following.
What triggers have you noticed set off a 'flare up' of your TN?
2 likes, 15 replies
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Notes on What are your triggers?
anne40307 tahnee33763
Posted
A very good question which could turn up some invaluable information for fellow suffers as a whole.
I went through a stage where turning my head to the left hand side always resulted in creases of pain. Now I try to keep everyone to my right if possible, I can't even sleep on my left hand side. Wind on unprotected ears is another trigger.
The worst trigger was when the jet of water from the shower hit the top of my head which set off what felt to me like a mini electrical storm in my head, apart from doubling up in pain I could actually hear popping and crackling in my head as the shocks went down my face. Prior to that episode my TN came and went, since then (3 months ago) it hasn't left me.
Look forward to hearing other sufferers trigger points.
dan45224 tahnee33763
Posted
army183 tahnee33763
Posted
My main shock site is the upper left lip and the upper jaw (maxilla). My main trigger area for years was the cheek, nose and lower left eye. Shaving is exquisitely painful and cleaning teeth equally so). However, my trigger point has shifted over last few months. It's now the upper eye, forehead and top of head. I too get stabbing pains when I go under the shower jet.
Cold air/wind is just as bad
I bet you get as many trigger points as patients on this site!!
Cheers
Big D
Jewell army183
Posted
My heart goes out to you. For two days I had the cheek, nose, eye pain. Thankfully it didn't last. My pain is lower left mandible. Today was bad, until I took a norco and an ibuprofen. I've been keeping track of my blood pressure for over a year. Interestingly, the days of intense pain occur when my blood pressure is elevated. Could it be that my blood pressure causes the blood vessels around the trigeminal nerve to expand a bit, thus touching the big guy and that contact causes the pain? I think maybe I'm onto something. Will talk to the doc. Meanwhile very motivated to keep blood pressure down. Thanks for listening guys. God bless you all as you journey through this torture. I feel your pain. Literally.
Jewell tahnee33763
Posted
Getting out of bed, eating and talking are my triggers🙁
marilyn49807 tahnee33763
Posted
What triggers used to set off my "flare ups" was anything sweet or sour,washing my face,brushing my teeth/ oh so bad!!! I will have to say that when I started taking 1500 gabapintin a day and had many prayers for me, it " the pain stopped but I tried to go off of Gabapintin and could not yet but I feel it is only a matter of time as God has this.
How are you doing with the pain?
lhicks10 tahnee33763
Posted
Eating, opening my mouth, walking, moving around, etc. it can be exhausting when it's bad.
Tmg72 tahnee33763
Posted
Hi,
My Dad has found that a change in AIR PRESSURE make his face go tight and then the shocks begin (not so bad since he had gamma knife surgery). COLD air/wind made his face hurt the other week too.
He's just had his worst attack since the op, the only thing he's done differently is eat a large amount of tangerines, I've read grapefruit is not good but not heard of tangerines causing a problem.
Prior to his op, showering, shaving, brushing teeth, eating, speaking, would all trigger an attack. His specialist said that increased blood pressure would indeed make it worse. He's also been told that sitting in direct sun is a no no.
Hope that helps
army183 tahnee33763
Posted
Well, as expected by tahnee's request. Just about everything and anything can act as a trigger for TN shocks!
The only thing that hasn't appeared on the list is sitting in a recumbent position in a warm and darkened peacefully quiet room!!! I think that's probably safe for everyone?
Cheers
Big D
wavedancer army183
Posted
Oh if only Big D! I can't lie down even if it's in a warm and
darkened, peaceful room anymore. I started getting unbearable
pain when I did. I don't know if it's a change in pressure or
something, but I now sleep sitting up and hope that I don't accidentally
brush my face with my hair or hand.
Are you nearer to having your MVD? I know you had family commitments
but were looking at spring. I go in for mine next Friday
Chris S
army183 wavedancer
Posted
Hey Wavedancer
Yes, my sleeping pattern is like yours, usually sitting up or semi- recumbent. If I casually turn my head to the left - wham!!
Lack of sleep makes this worse because you don't have the full resilience to cope with the daily pain episodes.
Good luck with your MVD next Friday, I hope it goes really well. I've had my last consultant meeting and am booked in for the pre-med examination in next couple weeks. So I guess should be ready within a couple of months.
Keep us informed how you get on, lots of people on here will be thinking of you.
Keep safe
Big D
patricia_93319 tahnee33763
Posted
My triggers:
First one I've noticed - alcohol, especially beer. Does anyone else have this same trigger? I feel like I can't drink any alcohol anymore. Not even 2 beers. Any thoughts?
Another is emotional stress- I lost a friend of mine, and had one of the worse attacks.
Overall/ general high stress for long period. This I noticed because I work in payroll / accounting and with quarter-ends and year-ends.... it's all very stressful.
A lot of white bread could be a flare up, but haven't proven it.
wavedancer tahnee33763
Posted
Where do you start! I've got TGN on my right hand side so everything below
is if it goes anywhere near that side of my face.
Teerh brushing is a bad one for me. I now just put toothpaste on my finger and rub it on my teeth
where I can.
My hair touching my face. I've got round that one now by having my hair cut shortlist..
Going outside if it's cold of breezy.
The car for some reason.
Drinking even though I use a straw.
Eating anything that requires chewing.
The shower if it's set higher than shoulder height and accidentally goes
near my face
Washing my hair or using a hair dryer . Thank goodness for dry shampoo!
Putting on makeup or face cream.
Turning over in bed.
I'm sure you get the picture now 😉
sammy19404 tahnee33763
Posted
sammy19404 tahnee33763
Posted
I had severe pain as I woke and sat up, but by the the time I went downstairs the pain would subside and go, seems with me that it's pressure, only the other day, pain free for three months, then a sudden attack, boy it bloody hurt, 20 mins, force pressure to my head and ok, what can we do. The pain is sickening, no wonder what they say