I have had TN for 6 years and was on Tegretol that made me so sleep and dopey...
I spoke with my neurosurgeon and I had a "balloon compression" done over a year ago. Immediately after the surgery, I had no further pain and, having to wean myself off the meds, I've been medication free since then.
There is a 40% chance the pain will come back - If it does, I will go back in and have the surgery done again. They insert a large hollow needle through the outside of your cheek - insert a balloon - inflate the balloon so that the nerve is compressed.
I've been pain free for over a year now. It was a God-send to me...
Take care!
Judy
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clairemc
Hi, I'm 25yr old TN sufferer. I was diagnosed in Nov 2008, although I have suffered for over 8yrs prior to diagnosis- having many root canals and teeth removed before they realised what my pain was!!! I have been put on Gabapentin 300mg three times a day and can add in tegretol 200mg 3 times a day when it gets bad. I had an MRI scan in Feb and they said I had some blood vessels quite close to my nerve, but they weren't seen to be pressing on it. I don't want to be on my meds for the rest of my life and wondered if anyone else had a similar diagnosis to mine and has had surgery. I just want to be pain free and drug free as my medicines are already losing their effectiveness to control my twinges etc. Thanks, Claire
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