# MVD success stories? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized Older than 1 year\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110 "2011-01-08T02:22:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gary\_M](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Gary\_M](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Gary_M)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/1 "2011-01-08T02:22:59Z")
Has anyone had success with MVD and no side effects, such as facial numbness, hearing loss, loss of sensitivity and muscle control on the side of face affected? I have heard mostly negative stories so far. As a performing musician, I am trying to decide whether to undergo the surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Jen\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jen\_B](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Jen_B)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/2 "2011-01-08T03:18:55Z")
Gary, I'm glad you posted this I was thinking about posting a similar question. I'm meeting with a neurosurgeon next week to talk about MVD. Interested to hear the responses. Liz did mention something to me though in a message, that there are success stories and they are out living there life not spending time on our site. Hopefully one day we will all be able to live like that :) Jen B. ---
**Author:** ![Judy\_Ba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@Judy\_Ba](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Judy_Ba)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 4:16am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/3 "2011-01-08T04:16:57Z")
Well here I am..a success story. Hi Gary! I was diagnosed 3 yrs. ago with typical TN. My pain was electric shocks in the jaw area of my face. I had MVD surgery 7 weeks ago in Pittsburgh with Dr. Sekula, and have been completely shock free since waking up from the surgery. I do still have some soreness in my jaw area from it being strained while I was intubated and take Ibuprofen daily for it. That should eventually go away. I do not have any of the side effects you mentioned & didn't even have the fullness in the ears that many people have. If you read my blog, I have all the details about the surgery. My only regret is that I waited 3 years to finally have the MVD. It's the best decision I could have made! All my best & if I can be of any more help...just ask, Judy ---
**Author:** ![Estelle\_Sh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/47e85d/32.png) [@Estelle\_Sh](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Estelle_Sh)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 4:35am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/4 "2011-01-08T04:35:52Z")
Hi Judy, Did you ever read the letter I sent to Dr. Sekula, staff, and Quality Control? It was a doozy huh? How are you feeling? I am still having issues, especially with my neck, teeth, jaw, and headaches. I wente to see a Neurologist, and she is sending me to physical therapy. I had an MRI done on my neck, and I will be getting Botox in my jaw. I haven't gotten all the results back from my tests yet. It takes 2-3 months to get an appointment with a Neurologist here in Jacksonville. It's crazy! Diane had her surgery on the 6th. I hope all went well. My husband and I have been praying for her. I think my symptoms are all being caused by two nerves in my neck. I still feel like my neck was injured during the surgery. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Snodgrass](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/bob_snodgrass/32/3194_2.png) [@Bob\_Snodgrass](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Bob_Snodgrass)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/5 "2011-01-08T04:45:17Z")
Though unsuccessful, my MVD produced nothing other than a numbness about the 7 inch incision (neck area only) and a snare drum sensation at the hole they drilled. I was suppose to have a stereotactic radiosurgery, that became an MVD. A long story in a complicated case. For the most part, Liz is right. People DO get better and many move on. One person in particular who so kindly returns, having had a successful MVD is Ella, she shares here - [http://braintalkcommunities.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2028](http://braintalkcommunities.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2028) I'll stop in when I'm better...bob ---
**Author:** ![Judy\_Ba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5e9695/32.png) [@Judy\_Ba](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Judy_Ba)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/6 "2011-01-08T04:57:39Z")
Hi Stelle, Yes, sorry I didn't get back about the letter...thanks for sending it. I'm doing really well now except for the soreness that has remained in my jaw. Still completely shock free though. I may be giving Dr. Sekula another call soon if there is no improvement with the soreness. It actually hurts when I push on my face in the spot on my jaw! I hope you're able to get relief for all the issues you're having. Take care...Judy ---
**Author:** ![Liz\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d9b06d/32.png) [@Liz\_K](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Liz_K)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 5:36am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/7 "2011-01-08T05:36:27Z")
Gary, I’m the Liz who has reminded several that success stories are not generally posted on our site unless one was already a member and then he may post a success story. If I had to do it over again, I wished I had researched TN when I first got the pain. But the pain was managed on so little medication. But my neuro warned me that there was a chance that it would get progressively worse. But it didn’t. I had 3 periods when my pain increased but it was for a very short time, within 1 to 3 weeks it was controlled and I was able to go back to a minimum amount of meds. But mine became uncontrollable one day out of the blue just like the time it started only thousands of times worse and I could never get it controlled. That is when I started researching and I found this site. I truly believe that if I had had surgery earlier, I would not have as much pain as I have today. But making a decision is very difficult. When my pain got so much worse, making the decision was very easy. But now that I have a lot of good days, making the decision to have repeat surgery is much more difficult. But I have an appt with my surgeon in Feb. I wish you the best and hope you make the right decision for you. And should you decide to have surgery, I pray it is very successful. Liz ---
**Author:** ![Janet\_L\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/53a042/32.png) [@Janet\_L\_D](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/u/Janet_L_D)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://forum.livingwithfacialpain.org/t/mvd-success-stories/1110/8 "2011-01-12T03:22:54Z")
Hi Gary, I had mvd last august and I feel blessed and wonderful! little things that have taken time to work out that were from having surgery but went away after a few weeks or so, nothing big at all. I started my activities fully about 5 weeks post surgery. Now that it’s been four months, I feel like I did before the tn hit me last year…what a relief. My incision site is still numb, but I don’t even notice it…I am so happy I chose to have mvd, would do it again if I had too. An mvd success story for sure! Blessings, janet