Stevo53.....what a story! That's remarkable. I found two things interesting. The part about Manitoba, for one. The part about the nerve being pressed by an abnormal bend in an artery in the neck -- (not near the brain). I'm going to try to find info on that Manitoba hospital. I think generally speaking the US has the best healthcare in the world, but I'm not blind enough to think we have every answer.
On the part about the neck artery: I find that interesting because when my pain gets beyond what the meds level I'm taking I use a topical cream made at a compounding shop. The pharmacist there told me to rub it behind the earlobe on the bony part, and also in front of the earlobe. You referred to the place being behind and below the ear, but the proximity to the area the pharmacist said I find interesting enough to take note of.
Stevo53 said:
I also had some success with a friends home made magnetic pulser. It used a camera electronic flash unit to store and release the impulses and it used a magnet with a specific number of copper wire windings. Yes there is a $300 version of this.
Have any of you read all the info on the site of the hospital in Manitoba that specializes in TN. They have graphics tutorial for Doctors. I diagnosed myself from an article on web that then linked me to the Manitoba place. I had to diagnose myself because the Docs and local neuro were worthless, as was the Acupuncturist.
So when I knew what it was called I told my cousin in Aust who runs a big Hospital. He emailed me their complete data base on TN. This is what Docs go to for info. It even gives all the Meds, strengths, side effects and data on all treatments and operations. So I spent a week studying it all. I was not prepared to take any of the meds or have any of the procedures as it also had data on the results of the treatments. Like how many die from ops and how many get meningitis from brain surgery. Somewhere I still have all that info from the hospital. Not sure how I can share it with you all or if I legally can even.
So I set about to try and cure myself. It took me 3 yrs. What I found was that the more I could diminish the pain the sooner I would go into a remission. As I proceeded with this the pain periods diminished from mths to weeks and the remission periods increased from weeks to mths. I believe what I was doing was taking away the memory of it from the brain gradually.
Re the cause of TN. At the time I studied all the causes and I believe I know the exact cause of mine. The Data says the biggest percentage are caused by an artery getting a larger bend in it and pressing on the main nerve stem in the side of ones neck just behind and below the ear. So, I was in Bali in the tropics for a wedding and made the mistake of getting in a pool and at the time remembered thinking there was not much chlorine in the water but it was so hot and humid I needed to cool off. I got an infected hair follicle right in the spot where the literature says the nerve gets pressed against against the artery. I flew back to Aust , then to USA and 3 days later got the stabbing pain in temple, just once a day initially but within a week had all the face pain in the 3 nerve branches. Second week the trigger point was in one of my teeth for 4 days and I could only take liquid with a straw. Fortunately I had read the article by then that said do not go to dentist for this. The search I did to find the article that got me started was "EYE TOOTH NERVE PAIN" So began my education and 3 yrs of treating myself without Docs.
I had 4 sessions of Acupuncture. 1 was kind of euphoric, 2 hurt a little. Doc said it was my Gall Bladder.I knew that was bunk. 3 hurt a lot and the 3 days before the next treatment were the worst of my life. I was in such continual pain and weak from the pain that I could not walk up the flight of stairs to her office. I crawled on my hands and knees. 4. When she was about half way putting all the needles in one of them she was putting in my leg caused my leg to fly up in the air almost knocking her over and me nearly hitting the ceiling. I screamed at her. No More and get out. I should have just jerked them all out myself but it hurt to much to move to reach them so I laid there paralyzed for 20 mins till she ventured in to remove needles. She knew I was done with her. It took me a week to recover from that torture. Could not do much more than lay on the bed most of the time. Unfortunately it was a few mths before I discovered that alcohol would help. Lucky I am a tough ole coote. 53 when it started. Steve.
mrl said:Alcohol: I had one pain specialist tell me that alcohol did help some pain patients. it did not help me unfortunately
PainShield: we're all desperate for relief; just make sure you do your homework as Mimi suggested, & know that some things work for some people, & not for others. we have a poorly understood disorder.
I tried everything initially, & some treatments that were lifesavers for other people on this site didn't help me at all. other things that had no impact for some others did help me (e.g. acupuncture).
I tried a product at a medical conference (I'm a nurse), & surprisingly it did help reduce the pain for me. it is essentially "pulsed acupuncture" & is geared to override the sensory pain response with an almost imperceptible electric pulse. it is still very new (called the P-Stim) & costs about $300. some insurers in the US cover it (United HC), but many don't. it is FDA-approved for pain control. but again, some things work for some people & not for others.
