so I have been having TN2 symptoms and i had an MRI which showed the blood vessel is impinigng on the trigeminal nerve and the whole shebang. My neurologist at Stanford put me on tegretol but then i decided to get a second opinion at UCSF. The neurologist at UCSF told me i definitely dont have TN and that in fact I have facial migraines!
He gave me a prescription for amlodipine (and a back up script for memantine in case i have adverse reaction to amlodipine). These are both used for migraine prevention.
I am very confused now :|
Is there any way that I can distinguish TN2 from facial migraines ?
amlodipine and memantine are great meds if you LEARN TO USE THEM and what your triggers are. Theses are primarily taken before or as you see an attack coming. Your own experience will be the best teacher. There are a number of great free apps. Most neuro practices will have a trainer in their PT department that will help you get the hang of it. There are also some prescription type B complexes (you just don't go out an buy a bottle) that seen to help as well. You may want to start a tread here about what others triggers and/or starting symptoms are as they are very specific and varied.
You are luck to get this DX so early in your journey. if corrects (and you to the right program to find out) you have a head start in this journey. BTW some docs also prescribe the anti seizure meds as well. so don't feel you "stuck" The amount of work done of late has been incredible in this area. I know my granddaughters life has improved immemsley since they started treating he abdominal migraine It really is a new and emerging field
At this point i dont know who to believe, the Stanford people with their TN diagnosis (confirmed by MRI) or the UCSF fella with the migraine diagnosis.
Also he didnt tell me to take these two meds on a need to take basis, he told me to take them every day! Also i have no classic triggers (except for smoking for some reason). My pain is mostly type 2 which is there almost all the time.
Just my opinion based on my own experience -- But I just think the TN and the migraines go together. When scheduling my gamma knife surgery, my neurosurgeon said that the GK would help alleviate both. Other than the first week, I am having good results. I've never really been able to pinpoint any migraine trigger except smoking, and perhaps lack of sleep. But over the past year, when I've gotten a migraine, I am slammed. It didn't used to be like that. It used to be that I felt it coming and diverted it with Imitrex. Now I have to go to bed. I am trying to keep my smoking level down. Can't smoke a pack a day -- or even half a pack -- without consequences (and I mean short-term consequences, not long-term dangers). Just a few a day is about all I can handle.
Wow, TN also. My family Dr diagnosed me. I go to a Nurologist because my MRI from family Dr got denied from insurance company. I go to see him he says you have to have a MRI. He diagnosed me facial pain. I am on Tramadol ,Carpizpine, and Meclizine. I know my body when it's not working right. I will see how the MRI turns out. Sorry for venting. Pain pain go away want to feel better some day...