I just found this website explaining how one set of doctors use a method with a scope and a small hole to do the microvascular decompression surgery, at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles.
It seems as though it would have fewer complications and would heal much faster. Here's the site:http://bit.ly/lWLB8A
If you have already decided to have MVD surgery, this seems the best way. It truly is a serious decision, and all the facts and experiences of other MVD patients on this site should be considered.
I was diagnosed with TN in September, 2010 after having the pain since March, 2010. Went on tegretol and it worked great for 8 months; now taking 1,000 mg of neurontin daily - no relief. I had a glycerol injection on June 28, 2011 and instead of just having aching and shooting pains, I am now dealing with constant burning in addition to the other symptoms. My neurologist said it could take up to 3 weeks for the injection to kick in, so I still have another 2 weeks to go.
After reading all the serious effects of "messing" with the trigeminal nerve, I am so afraid to do anything, but the procedure described by Sheila is intriguing. Although I live near Pittsburgh, PA and travel to Los Angeles seems impossible. I am alone, so how do I accomplish that??
I have been so very healthy all my life and now I feel doomed to a life of excruciating pain and side effects of powerful medication. What else can I do???
WARNING! I have to warn you-all many and most top drs are very against this endoscopic mvd. There is a much higher risk of.death if anything goes wrong during the surgery - because there is not enough room to fix what slipped up- THEY CANT SEE AROUND THE AREA, NOR IF ITS TWO COMPRESSIOs or If A TUMOR THEN YOU NEED TWO MVD. say a Nick to the nerve or vessel- they can’t stop the bleeding. . Please do not do this. The best drs wont touch doing this.
I had enough of the pain and actually went through a MVD procedure on July 21 in Pittsburgh, PA at Allegheny General Hospital. To be truthful, it took almost 5 weeks for the nerve to settle down - I did have a major relapse during a very bad storm (maybe there's truth to the effect of barometric pressure) which lasted 4 days. Since then, I've been relatively pain free, only a little aching here and there. I'm now trying to wean off neurontin. Every day I pray that the surgery lasts for the rest of my life.
I would recommend going through the MVD procedure if your health permits - it was not the worst thing I went through (rotator cuff surgery was much worse). I don't believe in short-cuts, but that's my opinion.
Hope anyone who is considering this procedure investigates it thoroughly but don't rely on all the negative comments on the internet. My doctor's nurse advice to me was to stay off the internet - it's too scary.
If anyone has any questions regarding MVD, just send me a note.
Paula
PS Sara B: Mary Cassatt is my favorite artist and "Girl in the Blue Arm Chair" is my absolute favorite piece of artwork - I have a print in my home.