Quote:
Originally Posted by bulliemom
Good luck with the MVD, Kimberly! I have ATN. Funny you should mention neurontin-induced depression. I was on a very high dose of it this year and I have NEVER experience such severe depression in my life. I felt 100% depleted and my DH and family were worried about my mental state. I just went off the neurontin to try Lyrica. I'm getting good results from it and best of all, I have felt the depression LIFT! I feel my energy coming back, and I can think and concentrate again!
I don't think the MVD is going to do much for your ATN. You may have to face being on meds again for that -- or read up on the Peripheral Neuro Stimulator that a couple of people here have gotten! My pain doctor is planning on doing his first one in a few months -- I told him to give the #2 slot to me! Keep us posted when you get your surgery date.
Mary
P.S I'm pretty new on here too. I've been diagnosed with ATN for almost 3 years now although I had episodes of it for almost 20 years. Always thought I had sinus trouble.
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Hi Bulliemom,
It's nice to meet you!! Yes, about the medicine induced depression (Neurontin) after 3 days of stopping the medicine the depression completely lifted never to return. Yikes!! I also tried the Lyrica and got good results initially and then over time its effectiveness waned for me. No depression for the Lyrica.
It is interesting, I was never diagnosed with Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia and I have seen 2 neurologist and 2 neurosurgeons. Dr. White (neurosurgeon) also mentioned that once you are on anticonvulsants that it can also change the pain and the way it exhibits itself. In 1990 when he first got out of residency he would only operated on people showing absolute classic examples of TN. Then he got involved with TN Association. TNA showed him that even if a patient deviates from the classic profile in a few ways that they still have a 50/50 chance of being permanently cured. He found he could help so many more people. The neurosurgeon at St. David in Austin said that he has only had one person in his practice demonstrated all classic signs of TN. The others always have some variance on the theme but still many of the signs of classic TN. His practice also sees (same as national %) about 80% cured after 10 years.
It seems that TN doesn't always fit into a neat little box. Because people are different, it tends to present itself differently with different people.
Also, when I take the survey at Orgen Health and Science University, I always come up with TN1:
trigeminal neuralgia Type 1 (TN1): Trigeminal neuralgia, type 1, (TN1): facial pain of spontaneous onset with greater than 50% limited to the duration of an episode of pain (temporary pain).
trigeminal neuralgia Type 2 (TN2): Trigeminal neuralgia, type 2, (TN2): facial pain of spontaneous onset with greater than 50% as a constant pain.
It will be interesting to see what results I get from the MVD. I will be sure to keep you posted.
Please keep me posted as to the stimulator. My heart breaks that you have had to suffer for 20 years with this sickness. I am so happy though that relief is potentionally right around the corner!!
My best to you!
Kimberly
P.S. - How does your pain present itself if you don't mind me asking?