Went to a pain clinic & this guy told me to desensitize my face & retrain my nerves. He said if wind/cold bother me like they do then put my face in front of a fan. The idea of that sends major bad chills down my spine. He said to take a toothbrush & rub it on my face. To scratch my face over & over to desensitize it. I think he is crazy!!! I can't do that it would hurt too bad. He didn't give me any meds just that crazy info. Anyone else hear of this? If it was so simple I think every one would be doing this. Very disappointed. I just want to go outside again. I just want my life back.
I read your post thinking "is he insane???" Wow that is crazy...like you I couldn't even imagine putting myself through that.
Hoping for pain free days,
Linda :)
Find a new doctor/ pain clinic!!!!!!!
This isn't a case of exposure therapy -
when you desensitize yourself and get comfortable with spiders, flying or other fears
-- these are RAW nerve endings that don't need a fan on them!!!
Ditto what KC said above…
Doesn’t sound like this doctor at the pain clinic knows anything about TN.
Discouraging but maybe there are other doctors at the clinic you can meet with?
Maybe call them and explain and ask if they have anyone with TN experience?
((Hugs)) Mimi
This just beggars belief. I suggest you report him to the appropriate authority. He needs to be stopped!
Thanks guys. I thought what a wacko. He just thought that it wasn't a big deal & told me he has never had to take a pain pill in his life. Well buddy, goody for you I wanted to say.
I just want my life back. I have ATN & I so badly want to go outside. If I can't go now, at least in the summer. My poor little boy is suffering from being a care free child running outdoors because of me. That is what hurts me most :(
What a whack job!!!!!!!
Hi Tiarre,
It’s shocking that this guy works at a pain clinic! I feel awful for his other patients that aren’t as clued in as you are and may actually try this. I agree with Jackie that he should be reported.
My heart goes out to you that you aren’t able to go outside. Please remember though, that your little boy has the most important thing in the world: A mom who loves him very much and is doing everything she can for him. That’s what counts the most.
Take care,
Chris
What a fool. That is the sort of thing someone who has never had TN might say. Tell him that next time he gets something in his eye the best way to get it out is with a wire wool brush!!
This reminds me of trying to put out a fire with gasoline…
Can you say “quack”? The sad thing is, there are people who would believe this and keep going back to this fruitcake and paying him big money. Did your neurologist recommend him?
Yes, my neurologist referred me to him.
I am so sorry he said this to you. This is plain old malpractice. I think he trained with my first Neurologist, who told me that TN was called the “suicide disease” because the pain was so bad that people couldn’t stand it and then told me there was ONLY one med to treat it, Tegretol, and the fact that I was throwing up several times a day from taking it was too bad and that I had to “toughen up” and get used to it. At the very least your Neurologist needs to know what this ass has told you, although I am wondering about his competency in sending you there. Ok, I will be quiet now. I am very sorry you are having to go through this on top of the pain.
I agree that your neurologists needs to know about him. Some times they refer doctors in the “same group”. My internist referred me to a neurologist in her “hospital network”. Meaning they are all employed by the same hospital. When I went to see him I told him my ENT told me I had TN. He said ok, wrote me a prescription for Gabepentin (?) ordered an EMG and walked out of the room. I guess I was lucky because two months later he was arrested for molesting a pt. If you have any access to an anesthelogist ask him/her. Most of the pain doctors are anestheoligsts who have done a fellowship in pain management. Good luck!
My neurologist is "supposed" to be a good one but after trying on me on Lyrica & that not being enough & Trileptal screwed up my sodium levels, he said he had to send me to pain management. I even said that Lyrica isn't the only drug to try. He just was adament about sending me since I had pain that could not be controlled. I believe I have a much milder case than most. I have gotten shocks but not alot. I have ATN & I get alot of other kinds of face pain..burning, tightening, aching, bruising feelings. Chewing& talking do irritate my jaw alot!!!
ANyways, I thought this pain guy was a joke. He kinda kept laughing or chuckling saying that this disease isn't that bad but that there is no cure. I'm like, I know there is no cure, I just want coping mechanisms or something I can take when the Lyrica isn't cutitng it. I do have bad pain days too. I walked out of there ready to cry or fight. I couldn't decide. Ugh.
what a moron. hes actinbg like you have a simple phobia to confront. er HELLO you develop a fear of things when they start causing you pain..how the hell was that not adressed..stupid stupid man. sorry it was a tough appointment :(. I have been referred to a pain dr, a psycho motorist 'to treat mind and body relation to pain' and some other doctor i cant remember.. they didnt promise to take my pain away, just to improve the quality of life and were not so pill popping suggestive which was nice for a change. Do they offer any alternative treatments there?Dont get disheartened at one idiot hun, there are such people in all fields of medicine unfortunately but good drs are out there. x
OMG is he insane!? Just thinking of doing that makes me cringe. I really hope you find someone else to help you. Because this dude is nuts.
Shivers!
~Mistee