After battling with TN for 26 months, I was able to get the decompression surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. I'm on week four and there's no pain and no more medication. Dr. Richard Zimmerman performed the operation and it went very smooth. My right ear felt like it was under pressure for awhile, but I had more pain from the IV than from the surgery. I had previously been told that my TN was the beginning of MS and it was inoperable. However, Mayo looked at the same MRIs and said that my problem wasn't even in the same spot and what my other neurologist was looking at didn't even come close to looking like MS and that it wasn't even something to worry about. So, for those of you still suffering, maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel after all. Good luck, everyone! Keep fighting.
Congrats!! Keep the good vibes and positive mindset going! I am 5 months post MVD- no pain , no pills, each day is a gift! I hope that your recovery continues smoothly!
Tiffanie
Thats just great news and yes there is hope. I had my MVD surgery in 1983 and been blessed with a pain free life for 30 yrs.
Thanks so much for the well wishes and glad to hear that others are having equal success!
So pleased for you!
I'm on year two of greater life than before MVD.
I read so much research beforehand.... up to date, is that MVD is 90%+ the good odds.....
some only lasts months or a few years.... and we get a second one done.
I'm hoping not to! I hated though, the meds more than the MVD !!!!
I didn't get my remission status at once..... starts and fits and stops in the first two years,
but now, several months again, no pain.... Of the two years, I had almost a straight year off pain and meds.
It can come and go through life... and some, like posted above, I've seen a couple where it DOES last for 30 years!
I'm happy for your great journey that has started!
Wow amazing thanks for sharing, I’m thrilled for you xxx
Wow! simply superb news, as you say there maybe hope for us all yet.
Awesome News!! So happy for you!!
great news, hope the rest of the recovery is clear sailing!
What about side effects of surgery ?! I am scared to death of this surgety
Dodo, the main side effect that I had after my surgery was that it felt like my right ear was clogged as if it had water in it. It drove me nuts at first, because everything sounded tinty and I could hear my own voice and breathing as if I were in a space suit. I'm now on week four and it has reduced significantly. It's supposed to go away entirely within the next few weeks. I still have some scabs where the staples were, but those are going away, as well. Even having those removed wasn't that bad. There is some tightness in that general area, but no pain. I only had a couple small headaches after the surgery, but the pain meds kept those to just minor aches. In fact, my hand hurt more from the IV, than my head ever did. I'm restricted to only lifting 5 pounds for another couple weeks, but that's about it. I was in the hospital two days, and walking around a hotel on day three. As a slight claustrophobic, I wasn't thrilled about being stuck in bed for those two days, but given the results, I certainly can't complain. I, oddly, wasn't nervous about the procedure. Originally, my neurologist first mentioned brain surgery, then told me it was inoperable. So, when the good folks at Mayo told me that wasn't the case, I was actually overjoyed that they didn't have to touch my brain, so I was all in. I wouldn't go to some fly-by-night surgeon, but if you get a good one, you should be in a good hands. I can't recommend Richard Zimmerman enough. HE WAS FANTASTIC! I was out for the whole thing. In fact, I don't even remember them preparing to knock me out. It's really weird. I still have two more weeks scheduled to be off work, but I feel like I could already go back. In fact, I stayed at a hotel in Phoenix for two weeks, so that I wouldn't have to drive back and forth for my check-up and only spent a couple days in the hotel. I threw on a light hoodie to conceal the incision and went to the mall and some movies. I thought the loud sound may bother me, so I went to a cheapy just in case I felt like I had to walk out. I never did. When I think about the moments I laid on the floor crying because I couldn't take the pain anymore, all I can say is that I'm so glad I had the surgery. I was up to six gabopentens a day and the pain still surfaced from time to time, while my mind was slipping away. Now, I feel like I have two years to catch up on. If you have the surgery, I wish you the very best of luck and can only hope you find as much success with it as I have.
Dodo, the TN is worse than MVD. By 1000!
Only get the best!
dodo said:
What about side effects of surgery ?! I am scared to death of this surgety