Numbing the nerve

Welcome New Member Introductions
1

hello,

i have MS and have been experiencing trigeminal neuralgia for a few years, my GP has tried several different medications, but none are stopping the pain completely, although they do control it, so I can eat, talk, brush my teeth etc. The other day, I went to the maxilla facial clinic and had an injection in my mouth to numb the nerve - this anaesthetic lasted a few hours and was to give me an idea of what to expect if I opt for the longer term one, which lasts about 6 months. I do think that a numb face and mouth is the lesser of two evils, but, because I couldn’t feel it, I have damaged my tongue and inner cheek by biting them when eating and now I’m really not sure which path to choose. Has anyone experienced these injections, how did you get on?

Luisa

2

Hi Luisa, I’m not sure if you’re talking about a nerve block. I’ve had 2. The first one helped with the pain a little over a day. The second one not so much. The pain Dr. gave me a topical cream which helps a little bit at tmes

3

Hi MJ, thanks for your reply - I’m not sure what the procedure is called, but they inject anaesthetic into the nerve to stop you feeling anything in that part of your face. The one I got was a kind of tester to let me see how it felt for a few hours before I commit to the long term one which will last about 6 months. How long were your procedures meant to give relief for?

Luisa

4

Hi Luisa, it sounds like a nerve block. They were hoping mine would last a long time. They wanted to see after the first one if I had any effect which it did. It lasted a little over a day. The Dr. said to give th the second shot about 2 weeks to take effect which it has. It has helped some but I still get the pain. I just want it to go away completely!

5

I completely understand about wanting the pain to go away (other phrases also apply). I did ask my GP if the nerve could just be cut, but he wasn’t keen on a permanent procedure. I think I will get used to the numbness, I just hope I do before I destroy the inside of my mouth.

6

Hi Luisa ,
I also have MS and TN . My neurologist says the ms is ging me TN .
Is your TN also a result of the MS ?
Tegetrol is absolutely working for me , but I had my first attack /period of attacks starting last november . I’m still on Tegetrol 200/day to keep the TN under control .
It’s always in the background .
I’m curious about what to expect . I’m doing fine but my GP told me to expect progression of the TN … !!! The pain was so awful that I can not imagine that to get worse !
How often did you have these awfull periods of intense pain ? Did things get worse over the years ? And how is the evolution of your ms . Is there a direct connection between your ms and TN ?

7

Hello,
Yes, I think it’s the MS, however MS is a handy blanket to put everything under so I don’t know for sure.

I’m taking Pregabalin just now, I’ve been through quite a few different drugs, but not the one you’re on. Basically I would be put on one drug, have to keep increasing the dose for it to stay effective until I reached the maximum, it would stop helping and I would be put onto something else, then the cycle would continue. I think the GP has run out of new drugs as Pregabalin was one of the first ones he tried. This process has taken a couple of years. Some drugs were completely unsuitable as they knocked me out - I live on my own, this can’t happen, so I only took those for a day or two.

My TN started several years ago - I would get a flare up then it would go away for a bit then come back with the remission times getting shorter until this current flare up which has been ongoing for a couple of years. The pain has also changed from just manifesting in my upper teeth to mostly in my lower ones (pretty sure some sadist has sneaked in and wired my teeth up to the mains), I had a wee while when it felt like I had been smacked in the side of my face with a bag of heavy pins, and for about 6 months (end of last year/beginning of this) I couldn’t blow my nose - the pain was triggered by touching my nostril or rubbing my eye.

This is the worst pain ever! I’m not sure if it is possible for it to get worse, but it can last longer - I usually get a series of shocks but sometimes, just for fun, the pain lasts longer. This is rather unpleasant.

As the drugs are not stopping the pain any more, and frankly, I have had enough of this BS, I was referred to the maxillofacial unit (not sure of the word, but max fax is what the Dr calls it). They can numb the nerve as it only affects sensation, nothing muscular and gave me a trial which lasted a few hours. It’s weird, half your mouth is totally numb, you can’t feel or taste anything - I’ve never had a filling, but they said it was like the numbing you get for that. I did chew my tongue and the inside of my cheek a bit, but I think that I will get used to not doing that. I am going back to see them on Friday for them to do a more long term one, this will last about 6 months. It’s the lesser of two evils more than something I actually want, but if I can brush my teeth without having to psyche myself up first, it’ll be worth it. I have stocked up with soups and smoothie ingredients in preparation.

I haven’t noticed a correlation between the progression of the TN and the MS - my MS is secondary progressive, so not so many relapses but a definite steady decline. You will have heard too many times that everyone with MS is different and what one experiences is not necessarily what you will (feel free to slap me, but please not the left side of my face).

Good luck with everything,

Luisa x

8

hello Luisa ,
Thanks for your answer and I wish yoy all the best on friday .
I really hope this will help you !!!
Good luck