After going thru almost a year of unrelenting pain I was sent to the UT Medical Center in Dallas where Dr White performed a Balloon Rhitzotomy. I had to try something because meds weren’t helping me and the pain levels I was having were unbearable just about everyday. Well it’s been one week since surgery. I honestly can’t tell yet if the surgery worked because I believe the pain from the surgical procedure is still overwhelming. But I’m starting to doubt and wonder if the surgery was really a success or not. I just cry thinking about it. I want to go back to work and play with my kids again. I have gained so much weight now and It depresses me.
Has anyone had this surgery and if so did it take you a while to heal? Right now I’m just so discouraged and have been so emotional. I don’t know what I will do if this didn’t work.
Nikki, I have never had this surgery, but I have numerous surgeries for other health issues. I know it can take quite a while to get over the pain from the surgery, sometimes longer than even the docs think. Try to relax, be patient with your body. (I know, easier said than done!) It has gone thru a very traumatic experience. Maybe it would make you feel better to talk to your doctor and get his or her opinion. Anyway, i will pray that the coming days will bring you relief and healing!
I have had 3 balloon rhitzotomys, two of them they added gylcerol to further deaden the nerve. I had these done after I had gamma knife, which did nothing whatsoever to reduce TN pain. The first one worked well for a little over a year and the pain returned, the second one the pain returned in about 7 months and the third the pain returned in 3 months. If I had it to do over again I would have simply went in for an MVD as I have been told that all of the balloon procedures further damaged my trigeminal nerve....hopefully this will work out for you and rid you of pain for years to come as it does for some people. I had very little pain after my balloon procedures and was able to do everything normal after just a few days..the relief from TN pain was immediate and a blessing.
Oh wow…I have nothing to complain about! I’m so sorry you have had to go thru so many procedures! I’m beginning to think something didn’t work for me because I am in a lot of pain and my whole left side is very tender like its bruised. I’m having horrible headaches only on my left side and I was told I would have instant tn relief but I’m yet to feel that relief due to how bad im hurting otherwise. It sounds like you healed quickly after this procedure???
Thank you for your comment. It does help. Good luck to you and I hope your pain is under control now.
Vic Maidhof said:
Hi Nikki,
I have had 3 balloon rhitzotomys, two of them they added gylcerol to further deaden the nerve. I had these done after I had gamma knife, which did nothing whatsoever to reduce TN pain. The first one worked well for a little over a year and the pain returned, the second one the pain returned in about 7 months and the third the pain returned in 3 months. If I had it to do over again I would have simply went in for an MVD as I have been told that all of the balloon procedures further damaged my trigeminal nerve…hopefully this will work out for you and rid you of pain for years to come as it does for some people. I had very little pain after my balloon procedures and was able to do everything normal after just a few days…the relief from TN pain was immediate and a blessing.