That nagging fear will take some time before it goes away its very natural. My thoughts are that once the pressure has been removed from the nerve the next big thing is to give it ample rest and let it heal. I would get on light duty as long as possible and if possible avoid a jackhammer forever. Saying that, in my mind ,once the pressure is removed and the nerve healing has taken place I would be pretty confident that he could go back to life as normal. Of course get your surgeons thoughts everyones TN is very individual. My prayers are with him that he is rid of the demon forever. Best of luck its a miracle when that TN pain is gone.
Weeza said:
Ed...WOW 31 years!! I can only pray my husband will be pain free that long! I have this nagging fear. My husband's job is outdoors, and he sometimes uses a jack hammer. Some months more than other (summer time). I wonder if that will set off the TN again? Any thoughts? Of course we will talk to the surgeon, but I am wondering if anyone has encountered a similar question.
I'm scheduled to have MVD on Wednesday! I'm counting down - so 2 days from right now I should be having some relief! I'm scared, but really there is no where else to turn. I too am allergic to all of the TN drugs that really help the condition, and was diagnosed just back in the summer. The pain began to hit me in early June and it wasn't long after that when my Dr diagnosed.
I am so relieved to hear of all the positive outcomes after MVD. These stories and knowing that my surgeon is one of the top in the nation kind of help calm my nerves!
Best of luck to everyone - and wishing pain free days ahead for us all!
I am almost 3 weeks out and I am doing very well. Dr Adada said my compression was different from what he usually sees. My skull had actually flattened my nerve so because of that I still have significant numbness but feeling is returning slowly. Think positive thoughts and you will do wonderfully.
My husband had his MVD surgery two days ago. Now he needs to be weaned off the Zonisamide. That will take ten weeks because he was taking such a high dose. And the Nortryptyline too. But the Nor will only take a few weeks. The doctor and his student doctor staff (USC KECK Los Angeles) are highly confident that that have relieved his pain. He had the nerve sandwiched between arteries and so the nerve was being rubbed from two sides.
It's too bad that the operation is thought of as a last resort. If there is a diagnosis of TN by MRI, etc., they could save all the pain and suffering of finding the meds that might aleviate the pain. The meds are mostly not predictable as to how they will affect your body organs, nor can you take them indefinitely if you do find the right ones because no one seems to know the long term side effects.
So far he has a headache and a bit of a stiff neck. Reading about the headaches beforehand on this site helped prepare us.
Before his surgery, I watched the entire surgical procedure on jove.com. It was good for me to know exactly what they were doing to him. And it helps my understand how he feels now, and why certain places on his head hurt that I would not have expected.
The main thing I would say to your husband is listen to your body. I hated not being able to do anything at first but now that I am 4.5 weeks out I am feeling more and more normal with the exception of the numb face. It is MAJOR surgery and it takes time to recover.