I was offered a TENS unit by a pain doctor!

I could not believe what I was hearing. I said something to massage my muscles when I do not have TMJ? I said I have deep pain and I am here today to see what permanent resolutions you can offer. The medications work most of the time,I am on Oxtellar XR, but I am sick of the side effects. Again, I did not ask for drugs. Again, another doctor who did not believe me. I am sick of doctors not believing me. I never ask for narcotics ever. I self-inject lidocaine and they tell me I have to stop, but how can I when they don't take me seriously. I have been told-oh you should not have this type of pain, and its all in your mind, and you just want Lyrica. Who in their right mind carries lidocaine in their purse just in case? I know what to do better than the darn ER doctors. I am soooo mad.

I carry lidocaine in my purse…even though in remission for three years!

You need to look at doctors tab here!?

Find a TN doctor that has MANY TN patients…,even if you must travel if you can!

For what it's worth.... I spoke casually to a doctor who spoke at an event I attended. In his presentation, he mentioned using a TENS unit for his own neuropathic pain. I told him I had read (in our Striking Back guide) that it was also used by some for TN pain and asked his opinion. He believed it was a potential treatment and encouraged me to try it.

Sorry they dont believe you. I didnt even think lyrica could be abused. All of these drugs are not recreational, and they see our desperation in the wrong light. I hope you have better luck next time. I didnt do botox because i wwas afraid of needles in my face, but it does relieve headache symptoms. I know headaches is not the same pain, but my headache medicine works for it.

A TENS unit doesn't actually massage muscles. It sends an electrical pulse into the nerve fibers. This apparently helps "distract" (I can't think of a better word - thank you gabapentin) the brain away from your TN pain.

I've not heard of a TENS unit being used to TN but my neurologist has suggested it for another type of nerve pain that I have in my arm. I haven't tried it yet.

For goodness sakes, why would anyone want to abuse Lyrica? I hate that some health care providers think anyone in pain is a seeker.

Yeah…at my local ER, I was treated like a drug seeker. A different doc told me I should see a psychiatrist! Really?? I’m not psych! My face and the bak of my head are in MAJOR pain. Here I sit at midnight with my hubby snoring beside me. I don’t need a psychiatrist…I need help! I need this burden of ain to be lifted. I need my pain specialist to call me back! It’s SO BAD tonight!