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Trigeminal Neuralgia
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<blockquote data-quote="Signorina" data-source="post: 574830"><p>I do. It's not severe lately but I have had periods when it was - especially when I was around age 10-17 or so. It was never properly diagnosed - was thought to be recurrent ear infections ( i was 10 in 1977) then neuralgia pain due to scar tissue inflammation in my ears (I did have a lot of ear infections as a kid) and eventually i was diagnosis'd with TMJ- which i do have- but I've since discovered my TMJ is a bi product of the neuralgia. I was treated for the pain with empirin w codeine. At one point in HS the nerve spasms actually caused muscle stiffness on one side of my face & I was thought to have Bell's palsy! At that point, I was given an antispasmodic and put on therapeutic rx motrin as an anti inflammatory and prophylactic antibiotics for 6 weeks with the pain medication as needed .My pediatrician - a wonderful man- went out on a limb after consulting with the ENT who diagnosed the TMJ. (Realize this was the early 80s, malpractice wasn't a prevailing concern, Motrin was still rx, antibiotics were still widely rx'd, and HSers didn't yet abuse/resell pain medications! )</p><p></p><p>His premise was that the neuralgia has taken on a life of its own after being triggered by an ear infection or some sort of sinus pressure or tooth inflammation. And that dulling the nerve (anti spasmodic) reducing the inflammation (Motrin), addressing the shooting pain (empirin) and making sure no infection lurked (antibiotics) & that I stayed infection free for a few months would end it. And it did . </p><p></p><p>Over the years, it's returned - but never that badly or for that long. I've learned to pull out all stops the moment I feel even a tiny twinge. Heat works really well for me. I sleep on a heating pad often or lean up against one while reading, watching tv. (On the left side of my face) Microwaveable buckwheat beanbags help too- the heat and the pressure relieve it. I NEVER chew gum. I start taking sudafed & mucinex at the moment I feel sinus pressure. Aleve works well for me bc I don't have to remember to take it so often. If Aleve's not working, I alternate 2 Tylenol & 3 Advil every 3-5 hours.</p><p></p><p>I recently had nose surgery which triggered it. I realized for the first time that when the nerve spasms, I tend to clench that side of my jaw because the pressure is somewhat soothing. But if course that's the worst thing to do- so now I've added a night guard to my arsenal! </p><p></p><p>I had a bad episode triggered by childbirth. I was "pushing" with my face lol- broke the blood vessels. That time (ds3) I was placed on phenobarbital which worked. </p><p></p><p>Cold is also a trigger for me. I need to move away from the Midwest!</p><p></p><p> I've learned to manage it and yes- Botox helps. I was getting it in my "11"s which helped & my PS added a tiny bit by my temple to address it.</p><p></p><p>You should see a neuro - it's self perpetuating & once that nerve is ****** off & inflamed - it keeps flaring. The most important thing is to stop it - and neuro drugs work the best but may be trial and error! Then learn to recognize your nerve's triggers & address them early before that nerve goes on high alert!.</p><p></p><p>Please know that my original episode was the worst- horribly painful and months' long- but I have never has another episode even remotely that bad since. So, the pain will stop.</p><p>{{{{ hugs }}}}</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Signorina, post: 574830"] I do. It's not severe lately but I have had periods when it was - especially when I was around age 10-17 or so. It was never properly diagnosed - was thought to be recurrent ear infections ( i was 10 in 1977) then neuralgia pain due to scar tissue inflammation in my ears (I did have a lot of ear infections as a kid) and eventually i was diagnosis'd with TMJ- which i do have- but I've since discovered my TMJ is a bi product of the neuralgia. I was treated for the pain with empirin w codeine. At one point in HS the nerve spasms actually caused muscle stiffness on one side of my face & I was thought to have Bell's palsy! At that point, I was given an antispasmodic and put on therapeutic rx motrin as an anti inflammatory and prophylactic antibiotics for 6 weeks with the pain medication as needed .My pediatrician - a wonderful man- went out on a limb after consulting with the ENT who diagnosed the TMJ. (Realize this was the early 80s, malpractice wasn't a prevailing concern, Motrin was still rx, antibiotics were still widely rx'd, and HSers didn't yet abuse/resell pain medications! ) His premise was that the neuralgia has taken on a life of its own after being triggered by an ear infection or some sort of sinus pressure or tooth inflammation. And that dulling the nerve (anti spasmodic) reducing the inflammation (Motrin), addressing the shooting pain (empirin) and making sure no infection lurked (antibiotics) & that I stayed infection free for a few months would end it. And it did . Over the years, it's returned - but never that badly or for that long. I've learned to pull out all stops the moment I feel even a tiny twinge. Heat works really well for me. I sleep on a heating pad often or lean up against one while reading, watching tv. (On the left side of my face) Microwaveable buckwheat beanbags help too- the heat and the pressure relieve it. I NEVER chew gum. I start taking sudafed & mucinex at the moment I feel sinus pressure. Aleve works well for me bc I don't have to remember to take it so often. If Aleve's not working, I alternate 2 Tylenol & 3 Advil every 3-5 hours. I recently had nose surgery which triggered it. I realized for the first time that when the nerve spasms, I tend to clench that side of my jaw because the pressure is somewhat soothing. But if course that's the worst thing to do- so now I've added a night guard to my arsenal! I had a bad episode triggered by childbirth. I was "pushing" with my face lol- broke the blood vessels. That time (ds3) I was placed on phenobarbital which worked. Cold is also a trigger for me. I need to move away from the Midwest! I've learned to manage it and yes- Botox helps. I was getting it in my "11"s which helped & my PS added a tiny bit by my temple to address it. You should see a neuro - it's self perpetuating & once that nerve is ****** off & inflamed - it keeps flaring. The most important thing is to stop it - and neuro drugs work the best but may be trial and error! Then learn to recognize your nerve's triggers & address them early before that nerve goes on high alert!. Please know that my original episode was the worst- horribly painful and months' long- but I have never has another episode even remotely that bad since. So, the pain will stop. {{{{ hugs }}}} [/QUOTE]
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