My triggers change for the worse every month now. Today, I seem to be triggered by being alive. Otherwise:
- visual input is my worst enemy, especially backlit screes (pc, tv, atm etc) and any other form of lamp that shines in my face. Now lately, also reading, which I love. Makes working kinda hard :/
- noise, loud or constant, like going to a crowded space or working next to a construction site. Luckily, music is still ok :-)
- draughts, epecially a/c, or wind.
- for the jolts, migrating touch triggers
- feeling ill
- laughing or smiling for an extended period, and other things that cause tense jaw muscles
- sinusitis, my worst enemy
Generally I practice avoidance therapy, and I am usually ok with the drugs. He problem is only that I cannot avoid most of these if I want to not be a bored hermit. Also, exercise, yoga, myofascial release, being with friends somewhere quiet and semi-supine position from alexander technique can help. Oh, and I got myself an e-reader w/o backlights. It's great for browsing and e-mai!
If there are other people with a lot of visual triggers, I would love to hear it, here or on my wall.
wind is one of my triggers; but so is stress.
Wow, I haven't been on this site for years, and after reading your triggers, I'm convinced that I'm not losing my mind. weather changes is big on my list; sometimes, when the water is running hitting the stainless steel sink, plates clanking, forks and spoons hitting together, loud noises all together and for my ears, when its windy - weather its spring or summer, my ear muffs go on to stop the wind from hitting my ears. Thank you for sharing.
wadams said:
Biggest triggers are weather changes, wind (esp cold) in the ear, and acid/tangy foods. But also menstrual cycle, stress, loud noises, bright lights and possibly phases of moon (still tracking). I use earplugs almost everywhere to stop wind from getting in my ear. I also find that constant pressure helps very much. I am not advocating this, but for me, just a few sips of wine or vodka will kill the pain in an instant. strange
In my case I think the answer is everything is a trigger at times! My husband tried to help me keep a journal of what triggers my TN and GN and we gave up! It was just so many things at different times. Changes in the weather are always a trigger. It doesn't matter if it gets hotter, colder or a storm moves in all of these trigger the pain. Looking at a computer or TV more than 30 minutes, sunlight or any bright light, loud noises, anxiety and stress, brushing my teeth, eating, taking a shower, exercise, looking up or down, walking for more than 15 minutes, lying in bed or any where flat, cold drinks, and the wind. I'm sure there are more but that's all I can think of at the moment! I'm sorry to be so negative but it seems everything I do in my life is a trigger and it gets very discouraging. I'm not giving up though! My neurologist keeps trying new treatments and I feel one day I will find help.
I wish you all pain free days!
The trigger that takes my TN in a downward spiral is stress. Stress can make my TN worse for weeks. For everyday triggers it's brushing teeth, blinking, touching my face, all of the usual culprits.
All of the above. Me too. Barometric changes on weather are bad but the most common trigger I have is stress. Gosh even being really happy and excited about something can trigger it. Instant pressure in the head and back teeth. Bummer. I’m trying to be more in the middle with my emotions because the very slight muscle tension that goes with stress is an instant trigger. If I wake up and realise I’m feeling anxious it might be because of the ‘humming’ buzzing in my back teeth & growing pressure in my head that day. I’ll try now to do some ‘self talk’ to calm and soothe myself. I stop whatever I’m doing and do some nice even breathing so as to relax my body. It seems to at least stop the pain & pressure from skyrocketing. And if it doesn’t help at all with the pain and pressure build, at least the breathing and aiming helps me mentally and emotionally be calm through a ‘flare up’. Sounds simple but believe me, I really have to fight the anxiety cause I’m always scared this flare up will be one of the bad ones. That said I try very hard to live just one day at a time … because just stressing over this condition just brings on more pain!