I’m asking a lot at the moment. Sorry. New to this.
Every time I do my maths work, I get an attack. It’s the same just concentrating. Does anyone else get this? Could it be I’m grinding or clenching my teeth without realising it or something?
Another new member, Phoebe, mentioned the same thing.... In fact, when I study my bar material I have issues too.... I think it may be stress that causes it though I don't know. If you use the search panel to the upper right side, and search on Phoebe, I think you will find the past discussion we had in regards to it.
Nevermind, you would not have found it that way... here is the discussion: http://www.livingwithtn.org/forum/topics/possible-tn-trigger-discovered-concentration
I am a teacher and taking Grad classes as well at the moment. I was just diagnosed with Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia on January 9, 2012. My symptoms started with a unilateral right side headache in September 2011. My doctors were treating me for migraines to no avail. As it went on, with the migraine meds not working, I started developing symptoms that I figured out were likely TN, but my neurologist would not diagnose me with anything. Changed Neuros in January and got my diagnosis. One thing that has caused me great pain though is studying, reading, or typing for long periods of time. According to my current neurologist, that was (a) being triggered by fluorescent lighting in my study areas and classroom, and (b) the ophthalmic nerve at my right eye is one of the trigger points for my TN. Straining to read and concentrate on long texts or righting assignments triggers mine. Earlier today I was engaged in a long tit-for-tat political debate/discussion with a "friend" on Facebook and my entire right eye, the socket, and the cheek around it literally heated up and then started burning and aching. It was physically warmer than my left eye region and cheek. Lasted for about 25 minutes of me sitting around with my eye covered, blocking all light, to get it to cool down and stop hurting. Long story short, before I trigger my eye again, reading and concentrating also causes me pain. It has become very difficult, even with taking Indocin and Gabapentin, to concentrate on my Grad work or my work for school. I have stopped giving my students assignments that require me to read long responses in order to grade them. Also, I got a note from my doctor to use incandescent lighting (lamps) in my classroom instead of the overhead fluorescent lights. It helps some, but only in my room. I have to basically move quickly through the rest of the school and avoid areas that are extra bright. Really putting a strain on me liking my current career and workplace.
Fred, Lisa and Amberzak
I have a personal theory in connection to my pain. It is simply bending my head down to study/ read etc. Stands to reason to me that if bending down does the “trick” then so could bending my neck to read. What do you think? Of course it could just be me.
It could be that you are correct in the bending. I will have to pay more attention to how my head is positioned.
Jackie, you saying that made me think. I sat in a different place in class today. I sat facing the board so I didn’t have to turn to see it, and I didn’t have the pain I had yesterday when I had to keep turning to see the board. So if turning my head causes pain, maybe bending my head also causes the pain?
I've found how I sit etc definitely affects my pain levels. That also leads me to believe that chiropractic treatments are helpful. If everything is in the right place there's less chance the nerve is getting bumped around. That's a big generalization because clearly the nerve is getting impacted by a variety of things in all of us. For me, I've found regular chiro does help.
The first time noticed that the position of my head/neck had an impact was during a very difficult to a manage pain period. Every time I turned my head to look at my husband/boss in the car when we were out driving it would trigger the pain. I was turning into the pain side. We drive on the left in the UK. Later found neck bending was having an effect if I bent over a book. I now try to peer downwards or lift the book up.
Jacky, I’m from uk too.
I’ve found I tend to grind my teeth so that probably doesn’t help
Hi Fred
This is an old post but interesting to me. I am a writer and a visual artist. My first attack came just after heavy-duty substantive editing, copy editing, etc of a 464 page novel, to get it ready for a major festival. I have only been able to publish one article since. Writing is kaput for me for the time being except in scraps here and there. As well as light from computer and deep concentration I think part of it is the constant moving of the head up and down, those micro- movements. I’ve gone back to a simple style of drawing to keep my head together, and have some kind of accomplishment in the day. I don’t teach writing or art classes anymore either. I simply can’t respond quickly enough.
Glad you found a neurologist who understands.
Bella
aCuppaCoffee said:
I am a teacher and taking Grad classes as well at the moment. I was just diagnosed with Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia on January 9, 2012. My symptoms started with a unilateral right side headache in September 2011. My doctors were treating me for migraines to no avail. As it went on, with the migraine meds not working, I started developing symptoms that I figured out were likely TN, but my neurologist would not diagnose me with anything. Changed Neuros in January and got my diagnosis. One thing that has caused me great pain though is studying, reading, or typing for long periods of time. According to my current neurologist, that was (a) being triggered by fluorescent lighting in my study areas and classroom, and (b) the ophthalmic nerve at my right eye is one of the trigger points for my TN. Straining to read and concentrate on long texts or righting assignments triggers mine. Earlier today I was engaged in a long tit-for-tat political debate/discussion with a “friend” on Facebook and my entire right eye, the socket, and the cheek around it literally heated up and then started burning and aching. It was physically warmer than my left eye region and cheek. Lasted for about 25 minutes of me sitting around with my eye covered, blocking all light, to get it to cool down and stop hurting. Long story short, before I trigger my eye again, reading and concentrating also causes me pain. It has become very difficult, even with taking Indocin and Gabapentin, to concentrate on my Grad work or my work for school. I have stopped giving my students assignments that require me to read long responses in order to grade them. Also, I got a note from my doctor to use incandescent lighting (lamps) in my classroom instead of the overhead fluorescent lights. It helps some, but only in my room. I have to basically move quickly through the rest of the school and avoid areas that are extra bright. Really putting a strain on me liking my current career and workplace.
I know this is an old post, not sure how I hadn't seen it yet in all my reading, but glad it was brought back up. When I was having TN attacks, I was told by a physical therapist to pay attention to my forward head posture. I had not previously thought my TN had anything to do with my neck. I noticed that i sat a lot with my head forward and down, while at the computer and sitting in bed reading my iPad mostly and I could see a correlation between posture and the severity of my pain. Just being very careful not to look down at all or sit with my head forward for two weeks made a big difference.
shawna
Thanks Shawna, that is really confirming and helpful. I had been watching the eyes down but not the head forward so much. I will pay attention.
Bella