Last year my doctors gave me lidocaine ointment for a different skin problem. I used some last night because it was suggested I use it for TN. I don't know if it helped or not. I really don't see how it can since the nerves are below the skin and inside the nose, gums, teeth and conjunctivae. I took Tegretol and Ultram at the same time I used the ointment, too, so I was able to go to sleep pain free. Does lidocaine really help people? The pain has been so bad the past two days if somebody said goat excrement helped I'd go find some and try it, hence trying the lidocaine ointment.
Kc Dancer Kc said:
Grab your primary.....ASAP tell them to call you in some
Lidocaine generic face patches Lidocaine mouthwash
Shouldn't hurt nursing baby.....
PS
consider looking down the road at MVD if a good candidate Its cranial surgery....not brain
Have to find THEEEE BEST,! Surgeon from here
TN IS progressive
MVD can give you years of remission..... Im on year three Another guy here is 30 years in remission.....no meds
It has 95% +. excellent remission for TN 1
2 days in hospital 2 weeks in bed
File this away for future reference.....meds have sooooo many side effects for us all
I have had the TN for about 3 years now but I still can't give you much good advice because tramadol kept the pain away and most of my days were absolutely pain-free if I didn't touch my face. But I have had dental work done during that period, so I can speak about that. In my case even the pressure they had to put on my head in different places to do the work (installing crowns, putting bands on individual teeth to isolate them for fillings), even this pressure did not cause a flareup, and I made sure to let them know in advance it was a possibility. It didn't hurt when they did it, and it didn't hurt afterward. We were all very surprised. So possibly having TN pain during or after dental work is on an individual basis.
I had the same thoughts about a worthless life night before last; if the pain was going to be that bad and not go away I didn't see how I could continue living. FORTUNATELY it finally did decrease and I was able to get in touch with my neuro and women's clinic. Just wanted to let you know I can identify with those thoughts now.
Jackie said:
Hi Lina, may I suggest you find GROUPS on the black header, click and look for TN and Pregnancy group. You could ask the other parents there how they handled nursing and TN.
I thought my life was over. I had little life value and thought my days would be hell forever. But guess what? I found a great neuro and she helped me put my life back together. I now have an almost normal life. I am a functioning wife, mother and 2 store manager. There is always hope, thankfully!
Thanks for the heads up about the Medicare Supplemental Insurance or other supplemental insurance.
Marie said:
Hi Everyone,
This is my first post. It's so great to be able to communicate with other patients.
I've had intermittent teeth pain for over a year. No electric shocks, but severe pain on the top left and sometimes bottom left teeth. No touching that area! I've seen several dentists and endodontists, who say it is not my teeth or a periodontal issue. I tried acupuncture and herbs, and it worked for a while. Then the pain came back and my GP diagnosed Gabapentin over the phone. It worked for about three weeks and then the pain started to come back, so she upped from 3 to 4 times a day. The pain worsened, and I had serious side effects. I told her I needed to stop it, so she prescribed Carbatrol. This is all without a proper diagnosis. Since Carbatrol requires a liver function test every three months and I am sensitive to medications, I declined. I asked for a referral to a neurologist.
For those of you on Medicare, you should know that larger neurological doctor groups will not even make an appointment without a supplemental insurance policy. I have AARP Medicare Complete until the next open enrollment period, when I will switch to a supplemental policy. I was lucky to find that the Cleveland Clinic in Weston, FL, accepts my insurance. I have an appointment with them on Jan. 5th, and I'll report how that goes.
A health practitioner suggested that I have my B1 and B12 vitamin levels checked. A deficiency could cause the myelin sheath protecting the nerve to deteriorate. Just in case, I started to supplement those vitamins.
I am 69 and have never had a serious health issue, so this is all news to me.
Wishing everyone good luck and a Very Happy New Year!
Thank you for your information about the lidocaine. My MRI and MRA on Jan. 5th were normal. I am allergic to Gabapentin and Carbamazepine. My neurologist just prescribed Topiramate to give it a try. At my annual eye exam today, my doctor suggested that because the pain occurs severely when I lower my head, it is positional and may have neck involvement. He suggested an orthopedic doctor. I saw a chiropractor today. He took and X-ray and he suggested adjustments 3x a week for two months to see if it will help. Today is the worst day I've had since it started a year and a half ago. What is an MVD? An Alcohol Block? Who is the neurologist recommended on this site? Where is he/she?
Happy New Year and best of luck to everyone! Marie
ShowMe_from_MO said:
RE: The lidocaine
Last year my doctors gave me lidocaine ointment for a different skin problem. I used some last night because it was suggested I use it for TN. I don't know if it helped or not. I really don't see how it can since the nerves are below the skin and inside the nose, gums, teeth and conjunctivae. I took Tegretol and Ultram at the same time I used the ointment, too, so I was able to go to sleep pain free. Does lidocaine really help people? The pain has been so bad the past two days if somebody said goat excrement helped I'd go find some and try it, hence trying the lidocaine ointment.
Kc Dancer Kc said:
Grab your primary.....ASAP tell them to call you in some
Lidocaine generic face patches Lidocaine mouthwash
Shouldn't hurt nursing baby.....
PS
consider looking down the road at MVD if a good candidate Its cranial surgery....not brain
Have to find THEEEE BEST,! Surgeon from here
TN IS progressive
MVD can give you years of remission..... Im on year three Another guy here is 30 years in remission.....no meds
It has 95% +. excellent remission for TN 1
2 days in hospital 2 weeks in bed
File this away for future reference.....meds have sooooo many side effects for us all
You are in Miami Beach! That's great because Dr. Bradley - who did the alcohol block for me - is in Davie. He is at Nova. His contact info is 954-■■■■■■■■. Call him and tell him what you are going through and he will help you - he is so kind and compassionate. You have type 1, which is what I have. It's terrifying, isn't it. Absolutely hideous. I have been nice and numb for 4 months now - so thankful for the pain free time I have had. Has been so nice to be a mom and not have to worry about being zapped every time I do anything. the MVD is a surgery where they make a small hole in your skull right behind your ear and insert a small piece of gauze between the trigeminal nerve and the artery putting pressure on the nerve. It has a great success rate. When I first called Dr. Bradley, I was dead set on having the MVD because I just didn't see how I could keep living like that with little kids. He said I was way too young to have the surgery, especially without ever having tried any kind of medications. I saw the neurologist he works with, Dr. Todd (who is also awesome and so kind and compassionate), and he agreed - too young and never tried meds first. So I had the block done in the hopes of nursing my baby until she was a year old. She is now 13 months =) So I have been numb from the block since Oct 10th, but I do feel the nerve regenerating (the block should last a person between 4 - 8 months - Dr. Bradley has a patient who received a block and has been in remission for 3 years now). My cousin in CA is a compound pharmacist and he has made me meds to calm the nerve - a potassium compound, a gaba compound, and the lidocaine paste to brush my teeth so my mouth is numb while brushing. The meds he has made for me are topical - the potassium and the gaba are like a gel and I rub a small amount behind my left ear 2-3 times a day (my TN is on my left side). On days when the regenerating nerve is somewhat painful, I use the potassium and it really does help - since I have been numb since Oct 10th, I haven't used the meds solo with no other treatments, but I am so hopeful they will allow me to live. If you are interested in Mark's information, let me know and I will get it to you. ShowMe_from_MO asked how the lidocaine could help with the nerve, etc are under the skin - makes perfect sense. I would say since pain from TN is caused by a sensation on the face - a breeze, heat, cold, any slight touch, etc. - maybe if we don't feel the sensation, it doesn't register which doesn't cause the nerve to send a wrong signal to the brain? That is just what I can come up with off the top of my head. It would be interesting to research that.
I am sorry we are all going through this. TN is awful =(
Please let me know if I can do anything to help, Marie!