I have had ATN for 10 years. In the last 2 months I have been getting zaps of TN in my face. I am currently on topamax for migraines and nortriptyline for my atn. Has anyone else experience this?? I see my neurologist in 10 days so I am hoping that he will do something.
I have had ATN for 7 years. But I also had one zap after 2 1/2 years . But I had GKRS after that Zap. I haven't had any since. . Hope I never do!!!! I am on Trileptal now. I hope that your neuro can find a good med to keep those zaps at bay. They are pretty awful I know. One was enough for me. Just the thought of maybe having another one of them makes me sick to my stomach. I wish you the best and sympathize with you Lena. Min
Oh Lena, I'm so sorry to hear this. Are they definitely electric shock type pain? I ask because I'm hoping it's just quick, sharp pains and not the classic TN shocks.
If you're certain you're getting the classic TN shocks, perhaps you could call your Neuro and ask him to call in a small prescription for Tegretol or Trileptal to tide you over before you see him.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you, my sweet friend.
For Lena
I can;t help thinking you hvae a compression, I had one side a year then the other four years 2 MRIs 2 CT scanms showed nothing I was too young! 33 years old, eventually another MRI and Hey Presto a knot of blood vessels one side and a compressed nerve the other by a blood vessel and an artery that was 23 years ago and over the years 2 MDS did very well, then rottenr esultds from another on the left but Lena I really do believe there is a physical cause for yours, it sounds so like my history. They called me mad, stressed, must think I had a brain tumour because my husband had died of one,single parenting is relaly didiuclt isn't it? they drove me almost insane, it WAS physical and I WASN'T mad or stressed or TOO YOUNG. My MIgraines wre not migraines either they were cluster headaches both cleared by taking out the compression both times and the shooting lightening bolts. The surgeon who operated on my husband helped me get the diagnosis, had I not known him I would still be where you are now. Keep at it, a very up to MRI scanner set to the right scan may help you. Best of luck, Lisa
On Lena, by the way the right side was pure zzaps they knocked me off my feet and wre contiuous for a couple of hours at a time daily on and off, the left was a slower burning up unti;l I thought I would pass out and my tooth was a trigger, no trigger on the right. Just in case this is familiar at all, also Iw as told you can be born with your vessels too close to the nerves so if it is one side there is nothing odd about it coming the other side, four nrueosurgeons had dismissed me, the one who operated on my husband KNEW me and he was the only one that said both sides made sense to him and pushed for a new MRI, he believed in me and he was right! Four years of total Hell and they found the cause, MVDs are excellent generally I have complications from a third one to release the nerve recently but don;t be put off, keep fighting, I can't help thinking you relaly do have a physical cause. Best of luck Lisa