I was diagnosed with Tn in the fall of 1995. It has been a interesting 18 year dance.
My first MVD was Jan 2009, it was a decompression. What was found, shocked everyone. I had bone compressing the nerve. My neurosurgeon, at the time, told me, in 13 years of practicing medicine, he had never seen such a thick skull in any of his patients. It is official, I have a thick head. ;) So, while I walked away with no padding, the bone was drilled off the nerve. So officially, it was a decompression. At this point, I had serious TN pain for 14 years.
This week, I had a internal neurolysis, and a repeat MVD. The concern was due to the bone pressing against the nerve, there was now scaring and adhesions within the nerve fibers. When I looked up the procedure, all that kept coming up was carpal tunnel surgery. I could not find a single thing about doing it for TN. I am blessed in the fact, my neurosurgeon has as his boss, one of the countries leading neurosurgeons. Dr Burchiel was consulted. It was frustrating not being able to find anything online. I am not one to do things without researching the daylights out of the subject first. It seems internal neurolysis is most done for carpal tunnel syndrome. I am going to give myself 2 months before I make a decision about success or failure. Personally, I think it is foolish to think I would get instant pain relief. Thing is the TN zaps I am getting are Lessing. Also, due to concerns about a repeat CSF leak coming out my nose, I am on a lumbar drain. I am going to give my self permission to take time to heal. Mind you, this comment is coming from one that finds it really hard to sit still
I started my TN dance in the fall of 1995. I am still dancing. Sometimes, though I do get tired and want off the dance floor. Here to dancing my last TN dance.