Hi everyone. Yesterday I went to second neuoroglist and he said that he didn’t think I had tn because I did not have a spot on my face that triggered pain. I there anyone else that had all other systems except that? Also reading the book it stated that talking could be a trigger, any thoughts? I did get tegretol and started last night.
Look here…
Google images: trigeminal neuralgia
Google images: atypical facial pain
See what you think!
I don’t think I have facial triggers. I haven’t tried looking for any though. The pain just seems to come and go on a whim. With that said, with it being cold outside, it seems to definitely act up more when I’m in the cold, especially with a cold wind.
I would worry less about a diagnosis and more about getting pain relief. If the Tegretol works, from what I’ve read, that’s pretty diagnostic in itself. Hang in there!
My physical triggers appear and disappear, they even move around at times. I don't think that they are a requirement as far as tn goes.....tn seems to do what it wants when it wants, trigger or not.
Hey Darlene. Why are smart people like Dr.'s so stupid sometimes?? I don't currently have triggers (although about 7 years ago I couldn't eat because it would trigger it). I am with kc dancer, studentNpain, and Brian. TN does what it wants when it wants. Sometimes there are triggers and sometimes there aren't. In the book Striking Back: the Trigeminal Neuralgia and Face Pain Handbook, by George Weigel and Kenneth Casey M.D, it says that in 20% of cases there are no triggers at all, and when there are triggers can move around (p.12 in my copy). Don't worry about triggers! Worry about controlling this pain!!! I wish you the best of luck with the tegretol and hope that it works very well for you, as it has for many people!!
Thank you very much everyone! As you all know, with this disease we just want to hear a accurate diagnosis and a doctor who is symptomatic to our pain. I don’t think this guy is that one. I will just take one day at a time. God bless you all.