Hi, this may seem a really stupid question, but there’s a lot of talk about MVD? What is it? I’ve never heard of it before now and how would you know if you we’re a candidate for it? Any information would be great!
here you go Jess, it's from the site FACE PAIN INFO
http://www.livingwithtn.org/page/info-9
really only a Dr can tell you if you are a good candidate, generally Type 1 has better outcome than Type 2, but ask a Dr, that may not be relevant in your case. Red Lawhern, our site expert considers it to be a good option for those suitable. Feel free to message him but he is away now until September so you need a little patience :)
Have you read…striking back …by dr. Ken Casey ?.. We love that book here.
MVD It’s around 90% BETTER to relieve or put you in remission
AND of MVD …depending how long you have TN… shorter you’ve had it = better outcome
…and if you don’t have any nerve damage procedures first, before MVD is also a good factor…
I only had TN for one year…I hated the meds realllly bad…so i researched here and there and flew to Michigan from Missouri…had THE best surgeon on the planet… He wrote the book above.
2 years later…I’m 5% pain come and go.
The more you read evvvvverything on this…the better your treatments will be…rare disease!
Keep reading, asking, repeat!
Hi KC … So you had the MVD and you still have the shocks ? So this surgery isn’t 100% pain free? Thanks God Bless !!!
Not a guarantee …it can come back in 5 months or 5 years…but since I only have 5% pain a couple times per week…before MVD I was so drugged up or in constant pain…my choice was good for me…and I would do another MVD if needed!
Donna, there is a misconception that the procedures offered for TN are “cures”.
There is NO guaranteed cure for TN. All of the procedures offered are to provide as much relief as possible for various time frames. There are many variables. Some people will achieve 100% pain free after having an MVD and it can last days, weeks, months, years.
We all hope for years…
I had med resistant TN2 on my left side, horrid levels of pain every day almost all day! Since MVD 5 months ago, I have no TN pain, however I still need meds, less than before but I still need them to avoid pain. ( I also have right side TN 1)
Below is a list of known and suspected causes of TN.
A blood vessel presses against the root of the trigeminal nerve.
Multiple sclerosis - due to demyelinization of the nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia typically appears in the advanced stages of multiple sclerosis.
A tumor presses against the trigeminal nerve. This is a rare cause.
Physical damage to the nerve - this may be the result of injury, a dental or surgical procedure, or infection.
Family history (genes, inherited) - 4.1% of patients with unilateral trigeminal neuralgia (affects just one side of the face) and 17% of those with bilateral trigeminal neuralgia (affects both sides of the face) have close relatives with the disorder. Compared to a 1 in 15,000 risk in the general population, 4.1% and 17% indicate that inheritance is probably a factor.
POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA
When chickenpox is contracted during childhood, the virus that causes it, herpes zoster, can remain dormant for decades in the nerve bundles near the spine. The virus will sometimes reactivate, causing the condition known as postherpetic neuralgia, or more commonly, shingles.
In cases of postherpetic neuralgia, the reactivated virus travels around the affected nerve, causing pain. The herpes virus can affect the trigeminal nerve, resulting in postherpetic neuralgia, or pain, in the facial areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve.
First thing to do is find a highly qualified neurosurgeon who is familiar and experienced with the procedure. I had mine done 30 years ago after suffering for 8 years. The procedure involves making about a 5 inch incision behind your ear and removing a section of the skull. Doctors then go in and address your particular issue. In my case I had an artery pressing on the nerve and 2 veins wrapped around the nerve. The artery was shifted and the veins eliminated or shut off. They then put in a teflon pad where the nerve coating was damaged prior to replacing the section of skull and closing you up. In my case I woke up pain free and other then some occasional numbness have been pain free for 30 years, Thank God. This was 30 years ago and it was much harder to diagnose with few doctors ever hearing of TN. I was fortunate enough to stumble upon DR Kenning who worked under Dr Janetta in Pittsburgh who was very confident and reassuring that he could help me. I know how awful TN pain is and I would highly recommend speaking to a qualified neurosurgeon. Meds will not fix or resolve the problem its a structural issue . The procedure sounds scary but I will say in my case the recovery from surgery was very simple and easy even though I had a spinal leak and had to be readmitted for about 5 days....Good luck and if you have any questions let me know I would be glad to help...ED