Longtime patient got good results from a rhizotomy in Dec '11. I've been completely free of pain since; until about a week ago when I was sent several reminders.
I've done the major proceedures (MVD, gamma knife) and various drugs (Tegretol works best for me), but didn't get near the no-pain period I just enjoyed.
Starting the Tegretol. My experience is I'll ramp up slowly and keep the monster subdued for some months. Then when I get consistently at 1000mg/day, with the guy out of control, I call Hopkins and get something done.
I alerted them today that they will see me in a few months for a rhizo re-do.
Has anyone done multiple blasts of glycerin and burn? How long did you go between? Any advice or warnings to convey?
Also, was interested in stress relation to TN attacks. I have a bit of that going on with the beginnings of divorce and heavy workload at the office. I've seen one spin for a long time about sinusitus affect, but have we visited this as I topic lately? I would be first to say I believe there is a direct connection. What the heck? Do we start grinding teeth all night long or what?
There is a definite connection between stress and TN pain. No doubt about it. Stress adds to it. Makes my pain more intense. Many on here will tell you the same thing. You can look up prior conversations about this very same thing... :(
hi..i also belive stress can aggravates many pains there are already there. that's for sure
i think it's encouraging for you to know you DID have something that helped. some people go all suregeirs and still find NO relief.
by the way - maybe the setback is temporary ! your fear may increase it. i've heard many went to sucessful surgeries... and than they thought the pain got back.. but it was only a slight remmision.
if you can - please tell about your Rhizotomy.
i was about to go thrgho one.. was in the doctors office to do it - but that "Chickened out" cause my diagnosis is not really clear. and the doctor say it can take up to a year to start effecting.
Funny enough my story is pretty much exactly the same. I had an rf rhizotomy in Dec 2011 and am now back in pain. Also going through a divorce and work stress. I have found very little information on repeat procedure but my surgeon does have quite a few patients who see him for repeat rhizotomies. He actually made it sound fairly normal that patients would just continue the have the procedure as needed. Though he did say this was about every 5 years and my relief only lasted about 8 months, which is disappointing. Have you had your next surgery? I would be really interested in hearing what your surgeon told you about outcomes. Hope you are doing well and have found at least some relief.
Hi Jim, what kind of rhizotomy did you have? Was it an ablation, or a glycerol injection? There's a few different types, so the answer is different, depending. From viewing your profile, I'm guessing it was a glycerol rhizotomy. I don't know if I'd repeat that one. I've seen a lot of bad outcomes, though good ones too. I think the RF rhizotomy, which is an ablation, has the least chance of bad side effects with good pain relief.