Has any doctor ever suggested that TN is hereditary? I keep thinking it's from either my German or my Irish ancestors. I know for sure that migraines are hereditary, from the Irish side. The doctors say that your structure changes as you get older. I don't know if they meant gaining weight, or what. I know stress is probably a huge factor, along with having TMJ. I've got to cut back on my caffiene intake, but for some reason I feel like it combats the medicine fog.
hey i came across this site doing some researchand if you look at the “who is affected” it says it can be hereditary because of the forming of blood vessels. there is some basic but imformative information on here. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/detail_trigeminal_neuralgia.htm
praying your day is pain free!
Melissa,
Thank you for this article! I knew it!!! I hope you’re having a pain free day as well!
My mother was diagnosed with TN back in the mid 90’s. I am the oldest of 5 daughters. I am 50 ~~ young to have TN (according to my neurosurgeon). My mother was 50-52 when she was diagnosed. I have to believe there is a heredity factor, even if it is a bone structure/vessel structure issue! I have no fact to base that on other than my family history. It will be interesting to see if any of my sisters have the same problem.
I have TMJ too 
For me the mouthpiece made a world of difference in that type of pain.
I hope you have a great day!
Hi Julie…I just wanted to let you know that I have just been diagnosed with TN…I was lucky enough not to have suffered very long without a diagnosis as my maternal grandmother also suffered from this monster. I am of Scotish/Irish/German decent. I also suffer from migraines as does my mother and my grandmother. Very interesting, huh? I have been getting jerking hands from the meds so I also cut my caffiene but i also feel it is hard to deal with my three kids without the coffee to keep me alert.
Julie sorry one more thing…Is there any history of stoke in your family? Many of the women in my family including my grandmother with TN died of a stroke. Just wondering if there is a connection there. Have a pain free day!
Erin
Erin,
You’re a rock! I have so much respect for parents that do not let anything stop them. Thank you for the comments. I do believe it’s in our genetic make up that we all have this. I’m sorry to hear that your grandmother suffered w/ this. We do have a history of strokes & dementia in our family. I’m still betting on my father’s genes to balance me out. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Thanks Julie for your vote of confidence…i truly need it some days. I am sorry to hear your family also has stroke issue…but am glad my thoughts are not totally off base…i am wondering if my TN could be caused by the same thing stroke issue are…also recent dicoveries with MS are leading to the blockage of viens playing a part and that MS patients also more likey to get TN…very interesting. Eh? Have a “Good” day Friend. Erin
Erin,
Thank you, we all are here to encourage each other. It helps validate our pain in a way, that what we experience is real, & it takes it’s toll. I was interviewing a doctor that does osteopathic manipulation out of curiosity that he could help me (insurance didn’t cover it thought). Anyway, it struck me that he said it’s easier to help cure patients w/ TN that were caused from an accident as opposed to those that had it appear out of no incident. But, that is how my other health problems come about, just out of thin air. I wake up one day, & there they are. I think it has something to do w/ our environment, how our lives are. My mom for example had a rough upbringing, but it wasn’t till her 40’s that she developed & was diagnosed w/ Fibromyalgia. I think over time, stress does this to our bodies. I still pray everyday that we all wake up w/ no health problems. I believe it’s possible for miracles. Have a good weekend.
Here's something to add to a year-plus-old thread. Newly published from Medline Plus at the US National Institutes of Health: "Chronic Pain is Often a Family Affair" ... See http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_131467.html
Regards, Red