So here is my question, is Type 2 and atypical the same? According to Dr. Burchiel I have,
trigeminal neuralgia Type 2 (TN2): Trigeminal neuralgia, type 2, (TN2): facial pain of spontaneous onset with greater than 50% as a constant pain.
Dana,
Yes, according to all of the literature I have read on the subject of Trigeminal Neuralgia, Type II refers to Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia.
If I may ask, what type of doctor made such a specific diagnosis?
Is Dr. Burchiel a Neurologist? Neurosurgeon? What is his or her specialty? I'm curious. The reason why is because, is because I am pleasantly surprised!!! You see, all of the healthcare professionals I have dealt with, personally, were, for the most part, seemed fairly fuzzy on their knowledge of even classic TN. All they seem to be consistent on thinking is that anti-convulsants are sometimes helpful. For me, it has been like pulling teeth (and I sometimes feel like they need to all be pulled out) to find one who even tried to study, pulled out a book with me, the condition of Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia.
I think the fact that he knows that there is a clear difference between the two types, diagnosed yours, and specifically and even added the percentage of pain, is perhaps a GOOD sign. Could it be that some healthcare professionals don't have to pull out a book to study ATN????
PICTURE ME IMPRESSED!!!!!
As always, best wishes to all for informed, compassionate and effective care!
Your friend,
Stef
He is great. Have you every seen the tv series House? He reminds me of House. He is part of Oregon Health Sciences University, so he is part of a teaching hospital. I had the chance to ride down the elevator with him and another brain surgeon, they were going to spend to weekend talking brain stuff....
Kim J. Burchiel, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Specialty: Neurological Surgery
Special Interest: Neurosurgery
Accepting Patients: Yes
Languages: English
Biography
Dr. Burchiel is the John Raaf Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery. His interests include functional and stereotactic neurosurgery, pain surgery, and epilepsy surgery. Dr. Burchiel's research interests are concerned with the physiology of nociception and neuropathic pains, including trigeminal neuralgia, the neurosurgical treatment of movement disorders, and image-guided neurosurgery.
The Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgery program encompasses a broad spectrum of surgical and nonsurgical treatments to manage and restore neurological function. Special programs include surgical management of movement disorders, surgical pain management, epilepsy surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, radiosurgery and stereotactic computer assisted neurosurgery.
The Surgical Pain Management program is a national leader in the treatment of orofacial pains, including trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureaux).
I recently went to a Pain Specialist who decided my TN was actually Atypical TN. It was so nice finding someone that actually knew what he was talking about. He was all about tweaking the drugs instead of performing procedures.
It has made a lot of difference to my state of mind. Everyone should be sent to a Pain Specialist