Devastating Pain-suddenly

Hello, this sounds like classic TN, indeed, that for some typically mechnical reason the Trigeminal nerve is affected, piched, compressed. As such it holds true in your case that you would not benefit from Lyrica, gabapentin or tegretol, since these drugs are more definitive in the treatment of ATN. I can only suggest that opiate-based painkillers combined with non-prescription anti-inflamataries would be your typical route to pain management. And whilst these drugs with make a person a little sick for a few days the first time around, they will work. The non-ideal aspect is that they would be best taken continuously at a low level and then raised during attack. This permits an environment where cognitive thinking can operate without being at the mercy of random situations of being dropped to your knees gasping barely able to remember one's own name. However, just as a heroin addict will suffer real physical deficiency if their self-medication is interuppted, an interupption from this treatment will increase the frequency and even amplitude of the pain. So the strategy of pain management is really a platform to enable a consistent mind-set for which to decide upon a type of intervention, for example, MVD. Yet I would point out to any sufferer, no, let me grasp any sufferer by the shoulders and shake them gently in slow motion and say 'stem cell treatment! stem cell treatment'. Which uses  your own stem cells, and is not prohibitively expensive.

If your dental work has been playing up after 2-3 months, you must get that looked at without delay. It is infected. Deep tissue infection in the face is going to get very trigeminal very quickly. Not to mention toxins causing heart, blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems. This Atypical cause of TN is the reason why the Gabapentins (Neurontin), Pregabalins (Lyrica) and Carbemazepine (Tegretol) then have an effective role. They are not painkillers, but they are psychotropic, i.e. affect the neurotransmitters, and have anti-seizure properties. Such that Tegretol can reduce the effect of tinnitus for example.  Yet other properties give Gabapentin a distinct anti-microbial quality stimulating the immune system with production of growth hormone. The anti-psychotic properties of Tegretol can counter-act the amplification of pain caused by certain bacteria.

Jackie, I would urge you to consider all alternative options before ablation of the nerve. I have read the reply from Proxy and you should take those comments very seriously as I believe they make a great deal of sense. I have posted my own experience on this forum a few times and won't detail it all here now except to say I had a rhizotomy of the nerve and while it took away the ferocious trigeminal pain it has left me with a condition known as anasthesia dolorosa (AD). My symptons now are a numbness to the left side of my face and head, constant soreness around the lips and mouth and lower left jaw and also in the mouth and tongue. There is no known medical cure for this condition and I have it 24 7, no let up at all. Also I am now back on the lyrica and gabapentin which gives me some relief.

Whatever you decide I wish you well, I know the terrible trauma you are experiencing.

I am very sorry to hear of you're troubles.

Hang in there, a lot of people (me included) suffer from TGN pain Jackie so you are not alone. It is awful, so make a nuisance of yourself for a quick referral for a scan. Tegretol worked for me for a year but there are side affects.

All the best.

Duncan.