I am losing weight through diet and exercise, have been using the treadmill a few months, and tried the elliptical today, could only do 15 minutes as my heart was going so fast I thought I was going to pass out!!! That is some serious exercise!! Would like to continue doing it, HOWEVER, as soon as I got off the machine I had some serious pain in my left cheek. Anyone else had cheek pain from strenuous exercise? Think I"m going to stick with the treadmill for about 10 more lbs. Maybe my circulation got the nerves upset? ITS ALWAYS SOMETHING!!!
Hi Sue, Good for you for persisting with the exercise - after all, we need to be in good shape to endure difficult surgeries. I'd imagine that you are right - it may be the vein pulsing against the nerve. Can you go at a slower rate? We picked up one of those multi trainer machines that Chuck Norris always advertises - we got it for practically nothing on Craigs List (people always like to clear out the exercise machines in the garage if it turns out that they never use them). Anyway, it is a great alternative and doesn't require much cardio, but still gets you in shape. I like my Wii Fitness as well. I wish I could help more, I don't get affected by exercise - but I wanted to cheer you along :o)
Lily
You are 100 % correct...it is ALWAYS something. That alone is exaushting. I go through times where exercise hurts my face more and then others where it does not do anything to my face. Do you normally get pain in your left cheek?
Best of luck!
Sue, I didn't get cheek pain after exercise but I had TN attacks when I sat down and dreaded going to the cinema or theatre. Since then I've discovered that the nerves in my neck are very irritated and there was obviously some pain being referred to my jaw. Perhaps your pain is originating in your neck or shoulder? Good on you girl for going back on the treadmill, we can't let the monster get the better of us.
Hi Sue, I gained alot of weight from Tegretol and from just laying on the couch in pain alot... I used to walk but found it a struggle as even though it was just a stroll, I realised my walks were getting shorter and shorter and i was starting to make excuses not to go, and that i was getting increased pain afterwards - it wasn't working for me.
In April i brought some Pilates DVD's - more specifically the Winsor Pilates DVD's I started doing the beginner's one's 20mins 3x a week and i also stuck to some of the recommendations from NZ Neurological diet. It's nothing full on, just a healthy diet with some 'scientific recommendations' as most diets often have these days. I worked my way up and increased the workouts to 50mins. The benefits of pilates for me was that I don't work up a sweat, it's low impact and you're working all your muscles. I will say that sometimes it's a little tough on the knee's and some exercises can take months to get the technique down so if you decide to have a go, don't give up - they have a person on the DVD's who you can follow while learning the harder exercises. After losing alot of weight I now add little walks in but still find them tough, I think it's the faster pace/breathing involved - I think it could help practising breathing techniques while i'm walking more as pilates is all "in and out through the nose" maybe i should apply that to the walking. Good luck with your continued weight loss Sue. x Susan.
I have experienced a lot of pain during and after exercise, which I used to do on a daily basis. I found that when I was working out very hard, I would start to feel my heart beat in my face (if that makes sense) and that beating would cause my TN to start up. I stopped working out completely for quite some time but I recently gained about 40 lbs when I started a new medication and have started to get back into the gym and working out. I have found that working out at a lower intensity has helped avoid any extra sort of TN pain so I don't run on the treadmill, instead I walk at a big incline or I use the eliptical or ride the stationary bike. I also don't lift weights because that bothers my neck which bothers my face. You have to learn what works for you and your TN, every person has different triggers and things affect each person differently so see what works for you and stick with it! I do find, however, that exercising makes me feel a little better (mentally)!!!
hey ya mean you start hurting when ya do excrised thats scarey
i like walking because am trying to loose weight ,but can you walk ,i need
answer please help me this is new god bless !!!!
Just a reminder to those who are gaining weight - get your thyroid checked - I have no idea whether it was coincidental to starting the meds, or whether the meds caused it, but my thyroid keeps going from bad to worse (higher than normal TSH readings every time I get it checked) and the doctor says that I can exercise all I want - the weight won't come off if it's the thyroid. But I still persist and exercise, because the goal is health, not a good figure - I gave that up when I reached my 40's :o)
Wishing all a pain free day!
Lily
Sally,
Walking is my main form of exercise, I belong to two walking groups and it's a great way of making friends and staying fit. Early in my TN history I went walking to "get rid of my pain". It was a big mistake. I managed 50 yards and came back in tears. After that I never went out during an attack but have had some good walks when things were quiet. I visualise TN as a lightening strike, sometimes I seem to de-fuse its energy by being active. .
sally choate said:
hey ya mean you start hurting when ya do excrised thats scarey
i like walking because am trying to loose weight ,but can you walk ,i need
answer please help me this is new god bless !!!!
Hey everyone, thanks for your information!! I am just using the treadmill at a slow pace (not uphill, bad knees) and have lost 10 lbs. since October 1. I miss the running and "sweat till you drop" exercising I used to do when I was younger (along with everything else.) At least I don't get the bad cheek pain while on the treadmill at a slow enough pace. ON ANOTHER NOTE - I go see a new neurologist tomorrow (12/22). Am awaiting the results of tests on my lymph nodes. Blasted chicken pox! I hope this doctor LISTENS TO ME. I am not a hysterical post-menopausal woman. I have real pain, I am not "depressed" and I do not want your antidepressents. TAKE ME SERIOUSLY!!!! I am so grateful to have ALL OF YOU on this site in my life. I looked outside at the snow yesterday and had burning eye pain all day, at least I know you guys understand. Must go now, can't look at computer, TV or read too much. Love to all.....
I wish I was fly on the wall to see you assert yourself with your new neurologist...........hope it went OK. Regarding antidepressants, they are all I am on since I refused to take anti-convulsants. The doctor explained that at low dosage they have been found to be effective for nerve pain. She said I could go up to 50mg amitriptyline but for depression she would have prescribed 150mg.
Apart from feeling dopey in the morning [a lifelong handicap] I don't feel that different but I sleep like a log.
Sue Richey said:
Hey everyone, thanks for your information!! I am just using the treadmill at a slow pace (not uphill, bad knees) and have lost 10 lbs. since October 1. I miss the running and "sweat till you drop" exercising I used to do when I was younger (along with everything else.) At least I don't get the bad cheek pain while on the treadmill at a slow enough pace. ON ANOTHER NOTE - I go see a new neurologist tomorrow (12/22). Am awaiting the results of tests on my lymph nodes. Blasted chicken pox! I hope this doctor LISTENS TO ME. I am not a hysterical post-menopausal woman. I have real pain, I am not "depressed" and I do not want your antidepressents. TAKE ME SERIOUSLY!!!! I am so grateful to have ALL OF YOU on this site in my life. I looked outside at the snow yesterday and had burning eye pain all day, at least I know you guys understand. Must go now, can't look at computer, TV or read too much. Love to all.....
Matthew,
Do you get runner's high from running? I'm not a runner, but I am curious. I would think runner's high would help with the pain, but it sounds like pushing through to achieve the high would be excruciating.
Matthew Tabb said:
Very much so Yes!
This is going to sound really messed up but working out in a way helps me because while I'm doing it the pain gets worse but by it getting worse it seems less so than normal later. Let me explain. I'm 6'2" and skinny. I have no want or need to get bigger, just stay fit so I run and swim, do high reps with lights weights, and yoga. The running is the most painful and satisfying thing to do overall. It really sucks while doing it as I go 3 miles a day on average when I'm feeling up to it(there is no such thing as a normal schedule with this so I just do when I can). While doing so I sweat a lot which burns and the pressure in my jaw area increases incredibly. It's all part of a routine though. I finish running, do weights and then swim. Then I jump in the sauna for about 10 minutes which the heat greatly helps bring everything back down compared to how it was while working out.
Then I head home and shower as I can't take the fire hydrant spickets they have there. Anyways after all of this(about 2 hours after all is said and done) my pain while still by all means there feels a little bit better. Some kind of strange psychology. Like making myself hurt worse at the moment so it doesn't seem so bad later. That probably doesn't make a lot of sense and like I said it by no means takes my pain away but it's another way of coping with it. Either way I'm going to hurt so I might as well try to take care of the rest of my body and if it hurts worse for a little while to seem a little less so later then all the better.
Sue, I know your feeling. Hopefully it has been getting a little better for you. If I didn't have TN I'd be in perfect shape. Unfortunately that isn't the case. I'm always hoping for something to come along to relieve myself and everyone else with this from suffering. It's been so long and I'm totally lost. Gotta keep going though. Maybe one day.
Hey Sue,
I think your body is telling you 15mins is wayyyy too much! You should start off with 5 mins, then add another minute every other workout 
Rach
Any time your blood pressure is elevated in truly strenuous exercise, there is some risk of aggravating facial pain. After all, this area is one of the most richly supplied with blood vessles, and the some forms of pain are a consequence of nerve compression by arteries or veins.
With TN, the rule of thumb is "exercise regularly and MODERATELY" Tai Chi Chuan is excellent as are many forms of yoga, and less strenuous non-impact aerobics. All help to elevate dopamine levels, which contribute to stress reduction and a generalized feeling of well being. For more on the subject do some reading in "Striking Back -- the Trigeminal Neuralgia Handbook" available through Amazon.
Go in Peace and Power
Red