Well, I wonder if Nortriptyline will help. It's an anti depressant, so this would be an off label use. And I hope to heck I can tolerate the side effects from the medication.

If this is TN or ATN (I say ATN because... it doesn't come in short episodes of stabbing pain now. That happened several years ago. Now it's a dull or burning pain that is constantly on the left side, until it decides to let up for a month or 2... and then it's back again full force) it's usually treated by using anti convulsants. What happens when the patient can't tolerate the medication type typically prescribed for this?

I'm almost tempted to say, "Ok if this is TN let's try a 3rd anti convulsant, risk the side effects, and see what becomes of it". Not all drugs are alike, but I can understand why they'd be hesitant to rx another.

And then I had a dream last night I was smoking some MJ for my pain and I was feeling so much better. Go figure.

It's like my neurologist wants to dismiss my dentist's EMG work completely.