I'm new (diagnosed Dec. 2011 after about 1.5 years of off/on pain). The left side of my face - skull, ear, around the eye, and jawbone are all affected.
1) What are the best options for a cure to Type I TN ?
2) Is there a good chin-strap to use at night to get better sleep ? (sleeping on my right side with my mouth closed seems to calm things down and work the best)
When awake, holding a towel to my left ear warms it up and helps to calm things down too.
My prayers go out to those suffering much longer than I have.
Pat, right now there are no options for "cure". There are treatment options for long-term management of both Type I and Type II trigeminal neuralgia and facial neuropathy. Suggest you start with our Face Pain Info tab, on the menu above, as you learn more. The sub-tab on Coping With Crisis may also be helpful.
Sorry, but I don't think I've ever seen a chin strap arrangement for best sleep.
I sleep with the bed covers over my face so I am not sucking in cool air. Once I am asleep, I don't USUALLY notice my TN, though sometimes pain has awakened me. My pain is around my eyes, ears, and right jaw areas. I am keeping the indoor temps warmer than I would have before. I used to love a cold bedroom. I use Mucinex 12 hour and Afrin Extra Moisturizing nasal spray along with a humidifier both for my Sjogren's and so I am able to breath through my nose...not my mouth. I keep Thermacare heating pads on hand in case I need instant heat to help with the pain or if the house is too chilly. As for how to cure TN? There is a newer laser treatment that is showing promise, but I don't know a lot about it and am waiting to see if there is more information as to longterm results etc... (And for more doctors to be proficient in it) That's all I know so far. It's all new to me, too.
I don't know of a chin strap.... for me, that would hurt the other side of my face and not be worth it. However, since I was misdiagnosed at first, I can tell you there are some AWESOME pillows made to assist someone with TMJ to side sleep comfortably. Many support and cradle your head in a natural way, which encourages you to relax, but keep your mouth closed at night.
Thanks for the suggestions ! These are all good and I'll see/report back what works best.
1) I workout at a Bootcamp 3 - 4X a week @ 45 minutes -- the exercise helps keep me in shape + promotes good blood flow, etc. The TN does bother me a little sometimes during the workouts -- mainly jumps or bending over, however it's usually not bad once we get going.
2) I've cut out many drinks and sweets that agitate the situation. Good News: this helps me maintain a healthy weight! I'm mainly just going with water and basic, soft foods - toast, oatmeal, soups, few crackers, bananas, sandwiches, some chips, Skinny Cow ice cream, etc. Taco Bell - Fresco style -- these are all saving me $'s too!
3) I'm upping my Nuerontin (Gabapentin - generic) to 400 Mg - 3X a day -- the 300 Mg was helping, but not enough.
4) I also just started (sometimes) taking: Walgreens Pain Reliever PM Extra Strength -- these help me sleep.
5) I just turned on my radio and turned off my fan (mainly used for noise to help me sleep, but may have caused facial agitation & restless sleep).
6) I also switched to one of those foam pillows with curves -- it's helping - especially when I lay on my right (good side).
7) Holding a towel on my left ear when an attack is coming on helps to quiet things down faster during the day. I'd recommend covering up good when going outside too.
If I learn of any other Tips, I'll be sure to pass them along.