I understand your situation. My TN started on my right side several years ago. My MS doctor put me on Trileptal and it worked ok for a while then I had to double it.
The TN then started on the other side of my face.
and I was taking Advil as often as I could along with Trileptal.
In September I went back to my MS doctor and let him know that my face pain was not controlled anymore and he added Clonazepam. It helped a great deal with the problems I was having with leg cramping at night and it knocked the face pain right away!
The doctor didnot mention to me it would help TN also, I thought he was giving it to me for leg cramping.
I figured it out just recently though. I went to my MS doctor last week and mentioned the Clonazepam was making me feel very sleepy during the day so he told me to take the Clonaz at bed time and take Zanaflex during the day.
I did that for 2 days and WOW did the TN pain start coming back. I could hardly stand it.
I went back to my 0.5 Clonazepam twice a day. I take Provigil and have started drinking coffee and Pepsi and I manage to find my way through the day. However I do not have a job to go to however I do have 5 children to look after.
I am sorry you are having a difficult time with this.
I know how much you need the Clonazepam and to have to wait that long to see a pain doctor is insane!
Quote:
Originally Posted by dmplaura
As some know, I suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (almost 100% sensory pain), TMJ (tempomandibular joint disorder) and Trigeminal Neuralgia (Atypical).
My pain is daily, and can be quite severe. I've tried several drugs without success. Currently I take Clonazepam, because it's the only thing I have not reacted absolutely poorly to, and does dull the burning pain I have on a daily basis.
After a conversation with my neurologist, it was decided the next step would be to see a pain specialist. I spoke to my GP today about this.
She laughed when I said pain specialist. Apparently, there's 1 in my city. Apparently he's excellent (I know, I've read his reviews... all glowing).
Here's the catch... 2-3 year wait to see him.
Can I live in pain for that long?! Clonazepam makes me sleepy as heck. It's almost impossible to take at work. I can take it and down the coffee. That's my only hope as I see it right now.
I think my decision about a move to Florida may be finalized.  |