Yes. If I don’t press the key hard enough, it doesn’t show up. I meant THANK THE LORD.
I use a disposable patch. As with most things, it took me a while to figure out the most beneficial way to apply it. The center needs to be DIRECTLY over the damaged nerve. For me the spot is right next to my nose, so that means I’m applying tape to hold it in place as the patch is partially over my nose. The instructions say it only needs to be close, but it didn’t work for me until I placed it over the area that is damaged. I also figured out how to make the patches last longer, as they are $40 a pop. First I use PAPER tape. Not only is it more forgiving on my face, but also on the patch when it’s pulled off. Second, I concocted a holder for the PainShield device, by cutting the toe off a long sock and folding it in half. I then pull it over my hand up on my arm. I place the PainShield in the “pocket” and that keeps it from being pulled as I toss and turn during the night. My patches last for approximately 2 months, instead of 1. Hope this is helpful. Blessings!
sparky – I’ve been applying a heating pad in the crook of my neck on the ATN side so it kinda folds up my neck and then down the top of my shoulder. It definitely feels better on my neck than on my shoulder. Is it actually helping? I don’t know. Most recently I feel like the ATN flare went into numbness rather that pain but it could just be the kind of flare up I’m having right now, too.
My face was numb to some degree every day on the ATN side for about 2 years, I had neck and shoulder massage with great success in bringing back nornal feeling so I would say there’s defintely a connection between tense muscles and the TN nerve. I also tend to think it’s pallative care, not preventative care, as a damaged nerve isn’t going to be fixed by massage but I’ll take whatever works, whenever it works!
As for connecting flare ups to anything… meh… I haven’t had any luck. A very, very strong and vague maybe is that it seems like when I get a certain type of migraine and that migraine lasts a certain length of time then maybe the ATN will kick off. Maybe. In 10 years I haven’t been able to really connect the dots, tho. It also seems like I’m more prone to ATN flare when I’m beat up in general – you know, had a bad migraine or been sick in bed with a terrible head cold… but I also tend to think that’s a false positive for a connection. I have chronic migaines, with enough effort I could connect shooting stars to my migraines. That’s the trap of chronic conditions, because they’re chronic they’re around all the time so it starts to be easy to connect them to things they have no connection to at all.
Which, actually, is why I caution a connection to menstral cycles. Of course you can connect things to that, it’s chronic and lasts at least a week every month! I used to get so furious when new nuero would blame my migraines on mentral cycle, I used to tell them that no, I’ve been charting it and it’s actually connected to the waning moon and lunar eclipse. Then I would start the hunt for a new neuro all over again. It makes me annoyed just thinking about it, actually.
One last though for you – when I’m in very painful flare, that constant, unrelenting burning of ATN I have found ice packs to be a great comfort. I know it sounds crazy but I will take a gel pack and lay down with it, laying on it so it covers that entire side of my face and neck. I think the cold of the gel packs helps numb the nerves. It definitely works for me.
I’ve been grinding my teeth when I sleep, so a different kind of tenseness. I have to wear a mouthguard, which obviously doesn’t keep me from tensing up, but it does prevent me from messing up my teeth. I wonder if you are so tense you are also having this problem, but your dentist should have let you know.
I’ve gotten a new pillow to help keep my neck from tensing up, and it is great. I also use it every time I meditate and do a body scan (highly recommend this body scan, and Kabat-Zinn has a 17-minute one for the times you don’t have time lol). This really helps me relax without taking a muscle relaxer, mostly because I’m afraid I’ll fall asleep when I need to be productive. But when there’s pain, there’s pain. I’m getting better at putting my body first, my relationships second, and the rest of it later.
Thanks as always azurelle!
And now after I finish scrolling I see you have a good pillow hahahaha anyway, thanks again
NonnaJoann, Thanks for info, although this is not our direction at the moment I like to gather all info, it just sits on back burner and if required we can readily draw upon it.
azurelle, Thank you, that’s a fully loaded post.
The hot pack, neck shoulder massage sounds very similar to our process and also how the TN symptoms can shift & flux over time. I do not buy the damaged nerve idea though, if the nerve truly was damaged the MVD procedure would have no success at all, I do think there is aggravation, but not necessarily damage.
As for connecting flares to events, I do not look at 1:1 scenarios only, more often it is a confluence of events as you described, bad weather so can’t walk, head cold stuck in bead, menstral cycle increases anxiety, add uncomfortable family visit and you have the straw that broke the camels back. though all seem to be unconnected, they all drive a negative outcome in anxiety which inevitably results in muscle tension. You mentioned migraines, a lot of these have been to be found to be tension headaches driven by dysfunction in the neck.
Haven’t really trie ice packs yet, but thanks, will keep them as fallback idea if we are in need.
willimus798, Interesting you mention the teeth grinding, we were also advised there has been some teeth grinding, the question is, is the teeth grinding a first level effect or is it a symptom of a far bigger issue like systemic anxiety.
Getting the right pillows and priorities is critical, so commend you, glad you mentioned the body scan meditation, not familiar with the variant you listed but will check out, keep on keeping on.
I’m having some minor success with CBD, but still tinkering. I get the impression that I might have to do a combination of two products and methods for intake. It’s all a bit foreign to me still, but I’m learning. I’ve actually had some success with vaping, of all things.
Strangely, if the burning in my nose and cheeks is better I seem to notice the aching in my teeth more. It’s like if you remove the worst then your left staring at the second worst.
I also am learning that microdosing is the way to go. I overshot my “sweet spot” or therapeutic range when I first started, now I’m seeing a point on the pain scale improvement from a mere fraction of the mg I took at first. I’m impatient to get on with more relief, but slow and steady everybody tells me.
Charlotte’s Web shipping is super slow. I use thecbdistillery.com and get my oil much faster. I am not certain if it is helping, but I have only used it about 10 days. Planning on longer duration before deciding if it is helping. It is fairly expensive (I am using 500 mg tincture, no THC at all, just CBD), but if it will help, seems well worth it.
Hi Everyone/ Anyone!
So my Neuro suggested CBD oil. Gave me a website that other patients have had luck with. BlueBird Botanicals. They have different types of concentrated oils. I am curious if anyone has used this company and which type of oil was successful.
Thank you ! Wishing you all a low pain day ️:shield:
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