Val,

I'm sorry about your husband having a stroke, and at such a young age. I've had bilateral trigeminal neuralgia for 18 years now. Over the years I've probably tried most medications they want you to try to help with the pain. I've had 2 MVD's and one Gamma Knife. One of the MVD's worked great for about 10 years. About 5 years ago I had a neuro-stimulator implanted to help control my pain. About 1 1/2 years after that I had another one implanted on the other side. I will never be med free but I am free of all narcotics. Right now I take Topamax and Trileptal. I was taking Tegretol too but I was having a reaction to that so we stopped. About 4 months ago I finally applied for disability. I work part time and I'm afraid of how I would do in a full time job. I fall asleep just sitting here on the computer. If I didn't have the dr. I do, I don't know where I'd be. I will never see another dr. again. Sometimes finding the right meds is just trying the right combo of things.

Best of luck to the both of you.