Just curious if this happens to anyone else on here. I notice that when I first wake up I’m relatively pain free or as close as I will get for about 5 minutes then it’s back to usual. Too bad this can’t last all day. Does anyone else have any relief upon first waking up?
Hi I feel ok when I wake up ,always said if I could socialise in the mornings would be fine .
My TN gets worse as the day goes on ,by 4pm is raging and evenings are just BAD ,hope you are having a good day xx
YES. This happens many mornings. For a few
Blessed moments I think this nightmare is over.
On the opposite pain increases under stress at
Work or driving in heavy traffic, noise , bright
Lights etc. Neurologist at least believes me on
This one
Getting up in the morning changes your blood pressure. For a lot of facial pain patients, even that relatively small change is enough to bring on the pain.
My guess after talking with a lot of people would be that possibly a majority of TN patients get relief from pain when they are asleep. Clearly, that's unfortunately not "all" patients. Sleep disturbance is something to keep track of for your own well being because lack of deep sleep can help to precipitate depression. If you have trouble sleeping, be sure your primary care provider is made aware of that aspect of your overall patient profile.
Regards, Red
My mornings are the best time for me, too. Then it gets progressively worst throughout the day. We've (my doctor and I) have improved this by spreading out my meds. I used to take the motherload of meds at night before bed. Now I take them a few times throughout the day, still with the largest dose at night. It has helped tremendously.
Of course it depends on which meds you're on, but it might help to ask your doctor if he/she has a way this could work for you.
I remember when someone else started a discussion on this same thing, so it must be really common. Yes, it happens to me too. One idiot Dr. tried to tell me that means its psychosomatic if it doesn’t show up until I start thinking about it, but that’s baloney. Mine just goes away for a half hour or less, unlike Lynda’s comment where she can be without it all morning.
Mornings are always the best. TN generally comes late morning, early afternoon - ramping up throughout the day. I rarely wake up with pain. But I do notice that since I had the MVD (failed), if I sleep on the side where the pain comes, it is probable that the pain will start even sooner in the day.
I share the same experience as you and all those who have commented. I wake-up, often feeling great! I do as much as I can in the mornings... I, too, which I could do all of my socializing then. Depending on what activities I have engaged in during the morning, the pain is usually back by early afternoon and horrible by bed time.
I am sorry you're only getting such a short reprieve. I take things very slow for the first several hours of the morning in order to increase my chances of more pain free or relatively pain free time. I haven't been able to work for sometime so that is a luxury that I have right now. Not a luxury, per se, as I would much rather be doing anything other than laying down at home all day!
Good luck to you and all! I hope you are able to string together more pain free time!!!
hi, i used to feel the same great pain free feeling in the morning, until about 5 days ago, now the pain wakes me up about every 3 to 4 hours. I dont sleep on the affected side (my right), i cant even sleep in my own bed anymore, for some reason laying flat makes the pain 10 times worse, which even on 2 lortabs i cant handle!!!. I dont know if maybe im clenching or grinding my teeth in the middle of the night but whatever it is sucks!!! i wish i could go back to pain free mornings 
It's nice to be catching up with old friends, Matt!
This patient represents on again-off again triggers, which got beyond the borders of breakthrough back in April. Houston has had problems since then.
Sleep, is that supposed to be for more the 2 hours? bob
Matthew,
I have the same problem, I was told by my dentist to wear a splint/ mouth guard. You can buy the type that you boil to mold to your bite (walmart), over the counter and see if that works. Sometimes I put a thin pen between my teeth for 5 minutes or less and it reliefs the stress that we carry in your jaw from the TN. You can do that several times per day. A heating pad is my best friend too.
Kim
The meds are working for me most of the time right now, thank God. When I am having a one week or ten day episode of bad jaw seizures, as soon as I get out of bed I am hammered. As long as I don't move my body or my head I have some relief.
One odd thing I noticed is when I move from sleeping on my back and move to my left side it always triggers a seizure. Or if I move from the left side to my back, same outcome. I have my pain on my lower left jaw and I never sleep on that side. John
Hi Matt,
I love it when a question such as yours, brings on an immediate,large response. Doesn't it make you feel better to know you're not some isolated, misunderstood whacko but part of a group that shares and understands your experience It's Living with TN at its best
FYI, before I found the right meds, I had miserable sleeping experiences. There were times if I moved my head to the left or to the right I would light up with pain. I imagined creating a vise type invention to clamp on my head to keep it straight. On rare occasions, it returns to haunt me.
I, too, experienced the pain free awakening. My oasis lasted for about an hour or two,often less Then, that little evil, chuckling ghost returned with all the horror of a late night chiller, whispering," You didn't think I would leave you forever, did you?".
SFBill
yeah, five minutes sounds about right 
same here.
I was the same way. As soon as I sat up the pain would start. I found sleep a blessed relief . Interesting though is that most other types of pain (not TN) are worse at night. kg
Hi, yes, I am relatively free of pain upon awakening in the morning. Within about 15 minutes, it's back to usual pain but those are 15 glorious minutes.
Tinkerbell
Hi Sheila, It does seem very common with ATN. I get about 20 mins or less of no burning pain after I wake but if I manage to get a nap in later that day it seems to reset the pain to a bearable level and I won't use anything for breakthrough pain later that day. Somedays the burning is just to much I need to lie down just to cope. Sleeping is my favorite thing to do :)
t
Sheila said:
I remember when someone else started a discussion on this same thing, so it must be really common. Yes, it happens to me too. One idiot Dr. tried to tell me that means its psychosomatic if it doesn't show up until I start thinking about it, but that's baloney. Mine just goes away for a half hour or less, unlike Lynda's comment where she can be without it all morning.
I often wake up feeling great but it's short lived once real life sets in. I feel like it's due to the fact my body have been relaxed all night and once I'm up all the muscles and such start carrying stress again. Also, the night time is my longest gap between meds.