Tried the Lyrica, completely wiped me out on only 50 MG, turned me into a zombie. Was put on Tegrotol ER 800 MG, that I was able to hold on to (still have serious brain fog but better). The tegrotol has kept the heavy spikes under control, but the daily pain is always there. Have just been started on Amitriptyline 10 mg I think to boost the effects of the Tegrotol. Of course my Percocet is at the ready should I start a burn through. As always warm rice bag and Asprine when it is just the ATN that is larger then normal. We all seem to have our cross to bear. Tomorrow is another day and mayhaps it will be better.
I've taken Neurontin for 8 years, and finally after seeing a different doctor, i'm finally convinced it does nothing for me , I can go for days without taking it, and it has no effect, no side effect withdrawals.........
But otherwiswe, only things that have worked for me, have been narco pain relievers and muscle relaxers, even those dont do the trick sometimes
NEWSFLASH UPDATE:
Methadone has always worked best for me. I found a doctor to prescribe it. He stated, "Trigeminal Neuralgia is hard to treat". Methadone is better than the other opiates for neuropathic pain due to the fact that it also works with the NMDA opoid receptors, most opiates/opoids do not.
I am not completely pain free, but I am better than in years and sooooooo thankful.
I'm still finishing my disability application process due to the fact that I know this is not a cure.
Blessings to all!
Stef
Stef-
How is your disability application process going along? I am in the first phase and have been trying to find folks to chat with about it as to their experience and anything that is helping them along? I have not yet received a first decision and am anxiously awaiting...
I applied listing ATN, depression and anxiety as illnesses. I am desperately hoping I get accepted as even though I had a reprieve over the past several months, the winter has set in and am having a downslide again. If you have any thoughts or suggestions or want to compare notes, let me know. Take care. Johanna
Stef said:
NEWSFLASH UPDATE:
Methadone has always worked best for me. I found a doctor to prescribe it. He stated, "Trigeminal Neuralgia is hard to treat". Methadone is better than the other opiates for neuropathic pain due to the fact that it also works with the NMDA opoid receptors, most opiates/opoids do not.
I am not completely pain free, but I am better than in years and sooooooo thankful.
I'm still finishing my disability application process due to the fact that I know this is not a cure.
Blessings to all!
Stef
I think i found my magic potion...........
I'm going off Neurontin, almost weened totally off now, and just taking Klonopin as needed, and Mobic as needed, so far I gotta say, it has worked wonders, I take a Klonopin, when I start getting my eye pain, and within 2 minutes its subsided. The Mobic I dont think is doing anything for the TN, but I know its helping my jaw. Not to mention my wrist and ankles have felt a lot better, since switching meds, and phasing out Neuronitin. I still take Vicodin here and there for the residual pain, but Im just happy to be down to maybe 4-5 pills total a day all together, but I did read up, and Klonopin, and Mobic, have a very long half life, so that may be part of the reason I dont need to to take as much meds now, both of them have a day and half, 1/2 life.
But pick the Doctors brain.........trial and error baby
Initially (back with my Neurologist blamed the pain on Migraines) I was given Topamax, lots of side effects but absolutely no help. Over the past couple years had been on various pain killers (Hydrocodone, Oxycodone) but neither really helped with the pain, it just helped me not care about it as much.
Once a diagnosis of TN/ATN (it seems to have taken manifestations from both, whee) I was put on Trileptal at 600mg daily which after a couple of days worked like a wonder drug, I woke up and was like, my god, what is this lack of pain! it was wonderful. There were a few days I was completely pain free, and the days I had pain it was much less than it used to be. After about a month, however, the benefits completely went away and the pain was the same as before being on Trileptal.
They upped the dose to 750mg, which didn't help at all, and just caused more side effects.
At this point meeting with a Neurosurgeon about MVD tomorrow, though I have mixed symptoms from both ATN/TN they did an MRI which was able to show a vascular loop up against the trigeminal nerve. Keeping my fingers crossed.