are you guys able to drive while experiencing these jolts of pain ? ... i am concerned i may not be able to control my car should a jolt happen while driving
Rebecca, I fortunately have about five seconds warning to pull over.. If I can't it seems to help my focus to stay more on the road by applying ALOT of pressure to the Trigeminal nerve right below by ear. I also keep a damp towel close by- it seems to help keep things at bay until I get to where I'm going.
Side effects of Tegretol and other anti-seizure drugs (Trileptal, Neurontin, others) may also make driving hazardous for some patients. Check with your physician to learn what the law is your State concerning driving while taking these medications.
Regards, Red
i have tried carbamazepine and a few others of that type of medication ... i can only tolerate neurontin (gabapentin) ... i can drive while taking that medication ... my concerns are driving when an episode happens ... i dont get warnings like blueeyedgirl does ... there is a church in my neigborhood ... maybe when the parking lot is vacant, i will try driving around and see how it goes ... the church is located at the end of my block and i live on a dead end street, so there is not a lot of traffic ... thanks for your input Red and blueeyedgirl
Hi Rebecca,
Since my face-Taser jolts tend to come "out of the blue" and can pretty much bring me to my knees, drooling with my eyes tearing-up copiously; I have serious concerns about getting behind the wheel, as well.
My Type1 TN hits me for 2-4 months with bad pain jolts every other day or so, throughout the day...Then the pain will slowly subside and stop for about a month before coming back with a satanic vengeance. I'm blessed to be semi-retired now and so I can pick my good driving days based on how my pain is on any given day, and then commence to get my chores done. "Life is good!" on those days!
Prayers for all here who have this Monster and are still working and/or trying to hold families together. Never a picnic or a "stroll through the park", but it'll get better!
Blessings,
Rick
Greetings Rebecca,
When I was having 7+ pain levels I did not drive, my family said I couldn't, that was a good thing. I was also on 3600 mg of gabapentin and 30 mg of baclofen, plus hydrocone. Lower pain levels (6 or less) and lower med levels make it possible for me to drive, with my families consent. I should add that I have a high tolerance for pain and am stubborn when fighting this monster. Since not everyone reacts to the meds in the same way, so I would suggest that you ask family members to tell you how you handle the meds. I know I thought I was in total control on the high dose but wasn't, just like someone drunk thinking they are in control.
While I was on a low dose I had a screamer 7/8 level attack while driving with my daughter, I was able drive without a problem, but it was hard. It scared my daughter and I don't know who was screaming louder, her or me. She insisted driving the rest of the way, I didn't agrue. Listen to your doctor, family or friends on whether you can drive or not. Please be careful and I hope you have many pain free days ahead!
Scott
I have warning when type 1 pain is going to occur, it starts off the same as my type 2 constant pain but I can tell it is rapidly increasing and would pull over. Luckily on medication so far any of those has been fairly short so I wouldn't be stuck by the side of the road for an hour or so like they are when I am off meds! I try not to drive far or at all when I need the more serious drugs and luckily I am fine on gabapentin :)
thanks everyone ... i think i will play it safe and not drive until ................................... i dont know when i will be able to drive again ?!?!
Rebecca: be advised by your doctor after he or she reviews your current level of symptoms and side effects. If you are made dizzy by the meds, you probably shouldn't be behind the wheel even if you are pain free.
Regards, Red
I have type 1 TN & certainly have thought about this & hope I am able to pull over and get out of traffic.
I understand your concern, Rebecca. So far, I have been in my home when I have had really BAD events.
Before I was diagnosed I drove for a week with the pain, I am on the road 100 miles a day for work. I have always had a "sixth sense" behind the wheel and was able to continue to drive with the pain. The medication is another story, I have been out of work 2 1/2 months now and unable to drive. I can make a quick 1 mile trip at best just to pick up some things at the store, but thats about it. It is killing me I cant work or drive, I love my job and miss it. I think that may be the worst for me with this. You sound aware and ok, but if there is any doubt I wouldnt drive. I am an insurance adjuster, and I write estimates all day for accidents, so I am a little more sensitive to people driving under the influence of anything. I hope you are able to, but if you doubt yourself, i would drive around an empty mall for a while and see how you do, Wendy
i am currently on baclofen and gabapentin for my TN ... i have been driving the past couple of days but only errands around town and my husband is in the car with me so he can take over in the event an episode appears ... thanks for all the tips group !!
R/
Rebecca
I just went a week without driving, after having a bad event one morning. Yesterday when I drove to town, which is only 12 miles away, I was cautious and thought about where I would pull over in case the pain hit. My plan is to pull over & try to call for help on my phone--if I am able to do it.
I quit driving when my meds quit working and my attacks became more frequent. The pain brought me to my knees and blinded me so I was glad I was never driving when it happened. I probably would have wrecked my car.
ha ha ha ... this is my third try, trying to reply ?? ... lets see if it works this time ... i get lost while driving sometimes ... for instance, last week i had to go to the vet three times ... the second trip i got lost driving to the vet and coming home ... it is weird how i remembered the other two times and forgot the one time
i wasnt making light of your reply brownkat ... i was laughing at my inability to reply
Well since I wrote my reply last year to this thread I have had to deal with driving in full pain crisis for around 30-40 minutes down a freeway in the rain. There was nobody to drive me (my stepmother drove me to the ER the time before this) as my husband had to stay home with the kids and it was very late and nobody was available. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do in my 35 years (plus unbeknown to me my heart rate was 160 thanks to the stress and my underdiagnosed thyroid condition). I was admitted to hospital for almost a week. I honestly hope that nobody has to drive in that much pain.
As long as I don't open my mouth when I am having an attack, I usually don't have severe jolts too much. But once your meds kick in, if it's keeping it under control for the most part, you shouldn't have severe jolts like that.
I didn't ask myself this question until I actually did get a violent jolt of pain while driving... I didn't know what to do in that second b/c mine come out of nowhere... my foot slammed on the brakes and I almost swerved into the next lane b/c it was so violent... I don't mean for this to scare you, but it is something to really consider if your "jolts" are violent. Thankfully I had a friend in the car and i was able to pull off the highway and had my friend drive the rest of the way... I can usually tell on days when the nerves are more "active" so I try to avoid driving on those days... but thankfully the jolts are not as often as the burning pain so in the last few years it only happened (while driving) just a few times.