Well I saw a doctor today and he prescribed me some meds for the pain. Motrin 800mg and Norco's. I hope it works...I asked him if he thought it might be TN and he said yes maybe but it comes and goes. He said to take the meds for a week then come back for a recheck.It sounded like he didn't want to give me a definite answer and to just wait to see how it goes first. I'm just surprised why he didn't bother to take x-rays. He was just so in and out and didn't seem to concerned. .
I think they want to be sure I can get insured first as all that stuff is expensive...There's a process here in getting insured by the County (free insurance), I'm currently going through that process but might take time.
Any advice on how I should handle my next visit? Maybe be a little more aggressive then the first visit??
Pain meds don’t usually work too well with TN. What has brought you to the conclusion that you have TN? I know I knew what I had, so I made sure I got to the correct doc to confirm what I knew. I had been going to my dentist for four years complaining before I figured it out. When I asked him to refer me to a fa Dial pain specialist he still looked at me and said, Do you really think that’s what you have. Since each case can be so different, many docs are not sure.
Well the symptoms are dead on to TN as far as what I read and based are others personal experience with it. I'm pretty sure it is TN but I haven't been diagnosed with it yet. Part of the problem is that I don't have a job and no insurance. So I'm limited in my options of doctors until I get insured. The pain is sporadic and happens at any given time. Stabbing pain on my right side of my cheek and jaw. Feels like my mouth is going to explode. There's no signs of my tooth being inflamed or swelling in that area....The pain is more of a nerve pain and it's excruciating! It seems to be progressing....However the pain meds have been working so far. The attacks are less frequent and not as long.
Well, the most important thing right now is that you are getting some relief from the pain. The reason I say pain meds don't normally work for TN is because that is what three doctors have told me. I actually haven't tried, because they have all said that they do not get good results. I know there are people on this site that have said they get some relief from pain meds. Definitely sounds like TN. There is a lot of good information here. Good luck.
Thanks Candy....The pain meds don't completely take the pain away but it seems like the attacks have decreased and they don't last as long. But I still have the attacks and it also may just be a coincidence. It appears that the attacks occur more often in the Morning when I first wake up. It's early evening now and just had maybe 2-3 small attacks in the past 3 hours since I been on the meds. The problem is that I have to stay home when taking meds as they make me feel very drowsy. I guess in a way it's good that I'm not working right now. But yes I enjoy this group so far,,,,it's been very helpful.
Rav,
Good for you on getting to the doctors. I would take the list of the medications used to treat TN. Ask to start on one of these. The first line drug is carbamazepine, if you get relief from pain with this it is usually a pretty good indicator that it is indeed TN. Just to let you know you will need to have your kidney and lever checked out with blood test once a month with this medication. X-rays are only used to rule out other causes sinus infections for example. Once you have insurance the next few steps you will need to do is see a neurologist and have an MRI done to make sure nothing is compressing on the nerve. As for the doctor’s statement that TN comes and goes smack him in the face. This is something that may start out as the pain is here and there or goes into remission but at one point it will be there all the time, at least that is what I understand from all the reading on TN I’ve done. Before your next appointment read the face pain info area and write down all tithe questions you have to ask the doctor, and ask him these write down the answers he gives; there is also a good list of questions to ask a doctor to see if how their practice will be a good fit for you based on their answers. And of course you can ask as many question as you’d like. I hope the medications he gave you give you some type of relief from the pain. Hope that helps you out a bit.
Wow thanks Kari...that was some good info that you gave me. I will make note of it and do the best I can to get what I need. I think the Doctor said what he said because he didn't want to speculate and didn't want to worry me....And the chances that I will get the same doctor again are slim since he referred me to another location for my next visit. As for the meds he gave me they're helping me somewhat but the pain is still there. However the attacks are smaller in duration and are less frequent.
Thanks again for your time, effort and support! :)
You’re welcome Rav. I know the face pain info area can seem like a bit chuck of reading, but the information is really insightful and helpful. Just read one part of it day. You will find the majority of us here have had to do some searching on what to do for our treatment of TN our selfs. This way you will benefit more of finding a treatment that fits and helps you more and understand it pretty well. A lot of us have had to make suggests to our doctors on what medicine, surgery, nerve blocker ect to try next or look into. Since TN is not a common illness most doctors don’t know how to treat it very well or even understand it. That is why it is important for you to start researching this stuff, and so far your doing a good job, you found this great site! Glad to hear the medicine you got is helping your pain level go down. Let us know what happens at your next appointment.
rav6962 said:
Wow thanks Kari...that was some good info that you gave me. I will make note of it and do the best I can to get what I need. I think the Doctor said what he said because he didn't want to speculate and didn't want to worry me....And the chances that I will get the same doctor again are slim since he referred me to another location for my next visit. As for the meds he gave me they're helping me somewhat but the pain is still there. However the attacks are smaller in duration and are less frequent.
Thanks again for your time, effort and support! :)
Rav, one point. A x-ray will not show up TN. A good reaction ( pain relieved) to anticonvulsants can be indicative of TN. Although I don't know a lot about the meds you have been given, it could suggest he thinks you are Type II TN in which case some painkillers do help. Type I can, and often does go into remission for periods of time. Type II less so, sorry :(
Totally agree with you Jackie. My MRI showed nothing, but it can't always show a blood vessel compressing your trigeminal nerve. But I have immediate relief with Tegretol (carbamazepine), so I got my diagnosis.
Jackie said:
Rav, one point. A x-ray will not show up TN. A good reaction ( pain relieved) to anticonvulsants can be indicative of TN. Although I don't know a lot about the meds you have been given, it could suggest he thinks you are Type II TN in which case some painkillers do help. Type I can, and often does go into remission for periods of time. Type II less so, sorry :(
Hi Rav,
My physician tried a few alternate routes before he decided i needed to go to see a neurologist. There’s no harm in trying. You may turn out a little luckier than the rest of us! sigh Type II TN reacts mostly to tricyclic anti-depressants. I have gotten very little relief from anticonvulsants, but the anti-depressants are dead on. Granted I can’t take but so much of them and still function at my job, but they do at least offer some reprieve from the constant pain. If it weren’t for the pain medicine that I take, though, I don’t think I would still be sane. I was going crazy at work in my own silent little hell, because it was a new job and I didn’t feel comfortable sharing that I had a tremendous pain going on. It greatly effected my work. After being diagnosed, and getting the meds my boss has even pointed out that my performance has changed greatly. Then I broke down and explained. My neurologist couldn’t find the problem on my MRI, so we are slowly going through a long list of meds that he has…trying to find one that has side effects that I can tolerate and still function, and helps the pain even more. I wish you well, and I’m very glad you found this place here early on. During the early stages of being diagnosed, when I was about ready to flip my lid, I wish I had had all of these folks to identify with.
Thanks Ash....yes I'm very blessed to have the support that I have from this site. It's just crazy because I don't even know if I have TN. It's tough since I don't have insurance to maintain the pain that I do have and also if treatment is needed if I have TN. I'm currently trying to get insurance through the county where I live and go from there. I have to admit that the meds given to me has been helping and I only had 2 small attacks today. So I'm trying to remain positive and hope for the best. I'm so confused because today I feel normal....I'm just waiting for the pain to come back because I know it will.
When I first was diagnosed I can remember thinking, on the days that I didn’t hurt, “maybe I don’t have it.” It absolutely blows my mind how much it can hurt…only to not hurt AT ALL on other days. Anywhoo…you’re blessed, indeed. I was unemployed when my pain progressed to the worst it had ever been, and I had no idea what was wrong with me still. There are resources out there…and as long as you put in the footwork and have a little faith, things work out the way their supposed to. (at least that’s what i believe) Even when they pain progressed, and the local government funded clinic STILL thought it had to be tension…they put me on a tricyclic anti-depressant. This relieved me of the pain until I got a job and got insurance and got a correct diagnosis. I don’t think that is a coincidence. Anywhoo…I’ve rambled enough. I hope you have another pain free day!!
When I first was diagnosed I can remember thinking, on the days that I didn’t hurt, “maybe I don’t have it.” It absolutely blows my mind how much it can hurt…only to not hurt AT ALL on other days. Anywhoo…you’re blessed, indeed. I was unemployed when my pain progressed to the worst it had ever been, and I had no idea what was wrong with me still. There are resources out there…and as long as you put in the footwork and have a little faith, things work out the way their supposed to. (at least that’s what i believe) Even when they pain progressed, and the local government funded clinic STILL thought it had to be tension…they put me on a tricyclic anti-depressant. This relieved me of the pain until I got a job and got insurance and got a correct diagnosis. I don’t think that is a coincidence. Anywhoo…I’ve rambled enough. I hope you have another pain free day!!