Just as when one has to come to accept the fact that they have trigeminal neuralgia or atypical neuralgia. There can be some depression involved that may or may not require treatment with anti-depressants.
I am thinking in my case I already had depression prior to the diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia and had somewhat accepted my fate as best I could. Then . When I decided to have GKRS procedure I knew my chances of completes success were not good and that at best I would receive 3 to 5 years of relief.
Theoretically it was possible it could last longer, I kept telling myself and I think I pretty well had myself convinced of this.
Three months after my pain has returned in May of this year,and I am a mess. I am having trouble accepting what my future has in store for me, all over again. My primary doctor has changed my anti-depressant, and I will start taking it tomorrow.
I guess with anything, life takes its toll on us, and we just have to accept reality the way it is.
I sure do think, if I had to do it again, I would have done the procedure. I was so desparate to rid myself of the pain. What's done is done. Can't go backwards. Peace, Min
Thank you Jackie. I took my first dose this morning and I feel pretty good actually. I feel a little sluggish and the pain is not as significant today. Not sure if it’s because the stress is more controlled or as they say ssri’s can help with TN pain, and maybe that is why they help with TN pain, BECAUSE they control the stress. This drug is actually an SNRI. So I am encouraged. Peace, Min
Hello Catlover, I had very intense burning pain in the front of my face originating at my eye tooth that started in 2005 and escalated to eventually be off the charts!! I had GKRS done on 2-29-08. After the procedure I was able to wean off of the neurontin as the intense burning pain subsided. However, I still had the aching jaw pain and face pain. This was tolerable, until February of this year, then I got Naproxen 500 from my GP for that and was fine. Then in May, the intense burning pain started up again. So, I had 3 good years of relief from the procedure.
One interesting bit of info tho, I was taking amitryptaline with my zoloft to help me sleep for 3 months prior to the pain returning. The reason I stopped taking the amitryptaline was because it was causing me to have drenching sweating bouts. Could be a coincidence... You just never know with these nerves!! Min
I also echo Jackie's sentiment. It saddens me to read your words but I am so glad that you had the courage to write them so that we could stand with you. I'm really new here so I'm not sure what else to say except I am so sorry for your pain.
I'm an artist. I know the last two weeks after being able to hold a paintbrush again, really helped me to focus against the pain and on something else. It also gave me a lot of new ideas for creation.
Have you ever thought about Art Therapy? You don't have to be an artist to do it. It is just having someone guide you and work with you through the emotions and the pain while you create your expressions on canvas or paper or whatever medium that captures your feelings.
Thanks sooo much Rockin hoppin girl!! I am definitely keeping this suggestion in mind. It has also made me think of working with clay too. I have always enjoyed doing that… but finger painting could be very therapeutic for me right now. I appreciate your advice. Min
WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! I just got back from my neurologist appointment today. I am VERY encouraged as he told me the Effexor which my GP has recently put me on DOES and CAN in fact work for nerve pain. YEAH!! So the plan is to stay on my Topomax and I hav one more week of the Tegretol at 200mg per day. Then on August 30th I get to up my dose of Effexor to 75 mg per day and we'll see if IT helps at all with the glossopharyngeal pain. I go back to see my neuro on Sept. 21st, and if the GSN pain is still there, then we're gonna try adding something else.
Trial and error, as we all know. It's frustrating, but I agree with my doc that adding more into the mix will just complicate matters and we won't really know for sure what is working and what's not. Just had to share my news with all of my buddies here on LwTN. Peace, Min
Hi sweetie, So terribly sorry to hear about your depression. I think this is something that we all suffer from to some degree or another. I became very depressed after my diagnosis of Arachnoiditis and being told I would never work again. At this time my GP started me on Effexor also. I now take 150 mg/day.
Once they stopped the Effexor thinking it caused other problems and my pain and depression both went through the roof and I ended up in the hospital. It does help with my nerve pain regarding my back and legs but for some stupid reason it does not help with my TN pain at all. Of course this may be totally different for you as different meds work different for everyone.
Please remember dear that we are ALL here for you whenever you need us. I surely hope the Effexor works for your TN pain. Love you,
Tommy, Most definitely keeping my mind occupied has helped in the past. But the THANKS was for sharing your story with me and for your helpful advice. AND thanks again for these helpful suggestions too. Peace, Min
I too believe everything happens for a reason and sometimes it takes a while before we know what that reason is...
I am in the same boat but was not depressed before atn and AD. However I am very depressed now. I hate having this life sentence. I have had my nerves cut trying to get relief. I would do anything to get rid of this horrible disease!
Thursay, September 1st. It's been three days now on the increased dosage for me of the Effexor. I am doing even better the intense burning pain is not there and the burning prong type pain all along my upper teeth into my jaw is barely there. I still have the throat pain, but it is only at a level 4 right now. I am thankful for my new medicine.
Pretty amazing that an SNRI (anti-depressant) can do that! I have to say that it has managed the burning pain for me the best yet, since I've had ATN and that has been 5 years. I have tried 5 drugs already.. Effexor- we just happened upon for something else my GP was treating me for.
Hello Catlover, I had very intense burning pain in the front of my face originating at my eye tooth that started in 2005 and escalated to eventually be off the charts!! I had GKRS done on 2-29-08. After the procedure I was able to wean off of the neurontin as the intense burning pain subsided. However, I still had the aching jaw pain and face pain. This was tolerable, until February of this year, then I got Naproxen 500 from my GP for that and was fine. Then in May, the intense burning pain started up again. So, I had 3 good years of relief from the procedure.
One interesting bit of info tho, I was taking amitryptaline with my zoloft to help me sleep for 3 months prior to the pain returning. The reason I stopped taking the amitryptaline was because it was causing me to have drenching sweating bouts. Could be a coincidence... You just never know with these nerves!! Min
What is the procedure that you had. I have intense burning and pain in my eyetooth and am at my wits end. I am so depressed about my situation. All I want to do is sleep and never wake up until this is over. I have had so many procedures done and none of them helped. I had 2 neurectomys which were total mistakes and a nerve decompression that left me with anesthesia delorosa. That means burning pain and such a weird sensation in my face that drives my insane. I have 2 small children otherwise I would wish for breast cancer and just fade away. I was doing really well in the summer, the heat seems to help my pain and going to the pool helped. No I am just so depressed I can’t take it! Hope you are doing better!
Dawn O’Malley said:
Min C said:
Hello Catlover, I had very intense burning pain in the front of my face originating at my eye tooth that started in 2005 and escalated to eventually be off the charts!! I had GKRS done on 2-29-08. After the procedure I was able to wean off of the neurontin as the intense burning pain subsided. However, I still had the aching jaw pain and face pain. This was tolerable, until February of this year, then I got Naproxen 500 from my GP for that and was fine. Then in May, the intense burning pain started up again. So, I had 3 good years of relief from the procedure.
One interesting bit of info tho, I was taking amitryptaline with my zoloft to help me sleep for 3 months prior to the pain returning. The reason I stopped taking the amitryptaline was because it was causing me to have drenching sweating bouts. Could be a coincidence... You just never know with these nerves!! Min