Trigeminal Neuralgia

. I've had TN for 21 yrs.

I personally will not take medication ever again because of the horrific side effects on the brain.

What has worked for me was acupuncture with the electric stimulating machine. This machine clips onto the needles making it more effective.

Second thing that worked really well for me was Prolotherapy (dextrose injections) to the face, head, jaw and neck. Naturalpathic drs handle this.

Third thing that continuously works for me, is Magnesium Glycinate. 1200-1600mg a day. Out of a 1-10, 10 being great, I'm a 7. Not bad. But it took some time. I know exactly how you feel.

Dr. said learned to live with it? Is this before or after he’s tried medications? Sent you to pain doctor? Tried procedures? You didn’t say anything about what you are taking or tried. No one can survive without sleep and being in horrific pain is so difficult. Right now I’m trying to decide how much pain I can live with before I try the MVD surgery. The medications are only helping to dull it a little.

Can you share a little more about what you’ve tried and what’s he’s offered? I am so sorry for what you are going through. I understand. I haven’t been able to leave the house except doctors appt since December. I can’t talk for very long without pain. This is a very difficult condition.

thats terrible ask your doctor for an operation have and no pain now

Where do you live, l go to London UCLH and see Dr Matharu. You need a good Neurologyst.  I have had TN and SUNA since around 2005.

So sorry about you pain Neil. Don't lay on that side or put pressure on it. 

I was given Carbamazapine for the pain. It had bad side effects from the meds. There are a few natural ways you can go during the day.

I take as soon as I get out of bed 800 mg of Turmeric (A spice you buy in a pill at any pharmacy.) It didn't work for me at night.  If you take it to much it doesn't work.

The other natural is B 12 & also a B complex. This has to be taken with food in the am. It's an energy vitamin.

I like the Turmeric better. (It's a game changer for me!)

Then at night I take 1/2 - 1 Carbamazapine. This way I sleep through the side effects.

If your Dr. isn't willing to perscribe med's I would see another Nurologist.  

Please let me know how you make out.

Have a Happy Easter & pain free weekend!

Which branch is it in? Mine is V3 (Mandibular Branch) affecting mainly lips, tongue, left cheek & left ear.

?Mine usually lasts about 5 weeks, once or twice yearly. I have had 4 surgeries. 1st was MVD which lasted 7 yrs pain free. Next was Gamma Knife leaving me pain free for 3 years. Then a 2nd Gamma Knife for another 3 pain free years. In April 2017 I had a PSR surgery that totally failed. Now April 2018 I will have my 3rd & last Gamma Knife When my pain is at its worst I can't eat, drink or swallow without lots of pain, Not sure where you are located as specialists aware of this disease are far & few between. I am in pain as I write some of this. Meds that help are 400mg x 3 daily of Tegretol,, 300mg x 3 daily of Gabapentin. Recently a Doc at an ER put a 50mcG Fentanyl Pain Patch that lasts 72 hrs on my arm. It immediately put up a barrier making the pain less intense.]

?Any combo of those drugs may work for you. I have also mentioned available. surgeries. Hopes this helps. Prayers for you buddy. May the pain Angels bless you.

I am so sorry it sound like you have been through a lot. I had acupuncture that did help by the second treatment. I burned through $600 quickly. Insurance didn't pay. The pain eventually came back.  I was suppose to have surgery the week before the acupuncture but canceled because of the benefits I did get at the time. 

I did go back to the Turmeric because that is the best relief I got without side effects. Please Have an opened mind & consider it before the surgery.

Have a blessed day!

I am so sorry you’re having to deal with this. I also had TN for 6 years and was completely maxed out on all my medications. I was beyond desperate so I opted for the MVD surgery. My neurologist agreed that it was the next step since medications were failing. I had the surgery in August 2017 and I’m still pain free. I don’t know how long it’ll last but I’m hoping for the best. My surgery was 100% successful. I had no pain when I woke up and I was off all medications in 6-8 weeks. My advice to you is research it. The pros outway the cons by a long shot. I had the surgery when i was 24. A lot of people on this site still suffer with this horrific pain. I still come here because it’s important to show the aftermath of surgery in my opinion. You don’t have to live this way forever. Our bodies get used to medications making them less effective. The MVD was my last option and I would have it again if I needed to. I’ve had nights where the pain would wake me up and I was miserable. I wanted to kill my self at times. This site made me feel not so alone. There is hope though! Surgeries have come a long way in the past several years. Please let me know if you have any questions and I’ll answer them the best to my ability! Prayers for you! Oh and btw, my MRI was also completely normal. I had 2 done and an MRA and no abnormalities at all. When he got in there he realized there were blood vessels pressed on the Trigeminal nerve and he said you can’t see stuff like that on an MRI.