Does anyone with this condition still go to work?

Well this will be my 3rd flare up In 2 years I started with electric shocks face ache ear ache managed with gabapentin 300mg 3 times a day with paracetamol and ibuprofen if needed . But did manage to work. All be it was uncomfortable, 4"weeks ago I started with the most horrendous what I thought was toothache abcess, any way I got a fever was sick and nearmy passed out at which point I was screaming for my husband to take me to a and e , when in realised the psin wasn't a tooth pain but I went to dentist first he confirmed not my teeth another dentist checked as well confirmed not teeth after x rays tests and examination the area around the trigeminal nerve was tender too, so of to GP was written of work for week, was still no.better so.medication was increased 400mg 4 times a day 1000mg paracetamol 4 times a day and 400mg ibuprofen 3 times a day and the pain was still getting through I was written of work for a further 2 weeks in total I have been off 4 weeks because of excruciating pain and being unable to drive whilst on medication with the new drug drive laws as they make me sleepy can't think straight, I have weend myself of medication and am going to try and return to work. This Friday but also been. Referred to rheumatologist as they think.my TN may be linked to underlying problem with neck and shoulder, If yiur medication isn't be working and you still have pain you can get it changed on to something that is maybe better suited that way maybe you could return to work x mines niggling again now x

I am 54 years old,have TN1andTN2 for just over 1year. I tried for several months to continue to work but between the pain and the side effects from Tegretol and ativan I could no longer do my job of which i took great price in, i was. a HR Manager for an extremely large company. I have great difficulty with medication, i can only take small amounts or nome at all. I take 300mg of tegretol and 1 ativan each day and can barely get through a day, lots of confusion.  hope you have better luck than i.

As i've mentioned before: Tegretol may hurt your liver.  Be certain to have liver tests done before you start taking Tegretol.  Tegretol works for a while and then you're looking at surgery.  The Gamma Knife (radiation) worked for me after two tries. The left side of my face is numb as a result of the radiation and I suspect this is why I no longer have TN pain.  The numbness is not a problem.  The suffering of all TN patients is a problem for me.  There are not enough of us to get real studies done.

Hello Valkyrie.

My understanding is that you can take large amounts of Neurontin (Gabapentin) but obviously this has to be confirmed by a GP or Neurologist. I take 450 mg Lyrica and 900mgs Neurontin daily and am still working, aged 68.

I get tired each evening but never during working hours. I note that Charlotte has mentioned surgery, I recemmend that you think long and hard before taking that route as in some cases although it gets rid of the TN pain it can have serious side effects. I had a nerve rhizotomy (cut the TN nerve) and have ended up with numbness to the left side of my face also PERMANENT soreness to the lips, jaw and tongue. I also have dry eye and need to lubricate it day and night as it gets quite irritated. This is why I am back on medication. I am not suggesting you rule out surgery as apparently I am one of the rare cases that has these side effects but just be aware of the risk. Best wishes

I take gabapentin 400mg 4 times a day I cant work, it makes me drowsy and sleepy and I have to drive and under the new drug drive laws Im not e en going to chance it, My GP totally agreed, however despite the amount of gabapentin, I still get pain breaking through in my upper and lower jaw which lasts force few hours I feel tired all the time., feel sick. On occasion. I am going to tribune go back to work Friday but I. Going to see doctor tomorrow 

I take gabapentin 400mg 4 times a day I cant work, it makes me drowsy and sleepy and I have to drive and under the new drug drive laws Im not e en going to chance it, My GP totally agreed, however despite the amount of gabapentin, I still get pain breaking through in my upper and lower jaw which lasts force few hours I feel tired all the time., feel sick. On occasion. I am going to tribune go back to work Friday but I. Going to see doctor tomorrow 

I am still working at almost 72 years of age and I love the mental engagement my job provides.  TN is in remission due to Gamma Knife sessions (2).  At one point in 2007, I was taking 3,000 mg of neurontin per day and still working.  I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't really tired but that the drugs were making me feel tired.

TN can be handled and it is not the end of your life.  The pain is awful but you will find a way to avoid it.