It appears that about 75% of the time when my wife's monthly cycle starts she has a bad flare up that lasts up to 3 days. I giver her a cornucopia of pain meds and muscle relaxers on top of her carbamazapine. It seems to help. Also a hot pack on the affected area helps too. But the the pain really never goes away until her cycle tapers away.
Is this a normal occurrence for the ladies? If so what has worked for you? She needs to go get some blood work to check hormone levels to see if those need adjusting. Any advice would help.
Many women report being more sensitive to nerve pain during their menstrual cycles. I've never seen a satisfying explanation in medical literature as to why this occurs, though. Many of the medications used in trigeminal pain also tend to reduce libido for both women and men. So I wouldn't be surprised if her hormone level testing comes back with anomalies.
One other aspect of your posting gets my attention, however: You say "I give her a cornucopia of pain meds and muscle relaxers on top of her carbamazapine". Can we trust that this "cornucopia" has been prescribed and coordinated by her neurologist?
Yes they have been Red. In the beginning I was giving her some that I had but after the Dr's apt he agreed with my solution and prescribed her the same. I have bi-lateral plantar issues and a heel spur. 6yrs now. I am given Klonopin and HC for the pain and spasms. Too many years on feet in combat boots carrying too much weight. Also being bless with flat feet at birth. But I retire in August so the weight will be gone and hopefully the issues with it.
I wish you well with service retirement, JW. I transitioned out of the Air Force as a LTC (O-6 select), and into civilian aerospace as a senior systems engineer following 21 years service. If you'd like somebody to read and critique your civilian resume, send it to ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■.
Yes, JW, I concur with your wife's symptoms each and every month. The pain begins to rise at day 14 out from cycle, then for two weeks it escalates until day 28…when it begins and the pain drops significantly, but is still a large enough pain to get my attention and keep it until meds work. Exercise daily on the elliptical helps with the natural occurring endorphins, which are like nature's morphine. Without a workout every day or every other day, I'd be lost. Botox helps with a big part of keeping back the nerve pain I experience, but oral meds are still needed because there are parts of the nerve that botox does not touch. It is very discouraging at times. If my diet has lots of green leafy veggies and yummy fruits with protein drinks, and not so much processed foods, I am in a better way all month. I know I'm not doing well when my hubby brings home red wine and chocolates! He can hear it in my voice when the meds aren't touching the pain. I also think that after 10 years with this pain, I am much more sensitive to the nerve pain, and all the other pains in life…like teenagers or middle-school attitudes that come home to bug me!! I have not found a way around this sensitivity yet, hopefully one day we will know more about our nerve problems. I wish you well in your retirement, and THANK YOU for your service to all of us. I also wish your wife the best and can only advise rest and a heating pad on the sore nerve when she is feeling the pain being more active. Relaxation and a worry-free mind does so much for our bodies. Many blessings to you two!
I have a weird opposite phenomenon, my pain is 24/7 TNP, so i dont expect the tegretol to help, but i started to take it just to make sure of it, and as i suspected, it dosent help even a bit, but guess what i use to have menstrual pain (vicious abdominal pain for couple of hours) and the tegretol works on this pain and wipe it off.....weird :o
I started noticing that I was taking the same days off every month. The first day bc I was soooo worn out and then the next day I would take off for my body to rest but each time the pain would come and be horrible that pain meds would not touch my type 2. Needless to say that it coincided with the day before and the first day of my cycle. I actually looked it up to see if this was a normal event for people with atypical TN. From what I read, a womans menstrual cycle does increase the pain for many women with either type of TN.
I have noticed a pattern just like LyndaS. Worse the later half of cycle, then some relief when it starts. Periods have been a bit less regular, but I am 47, so could be just "that time." I also believe being active, while a bit counter-intuitive, seems to ease pain. All the best to you all!