Quote:
Originally Posted by richardfalls
I had TN for 2 years,didn't get offered MVD surgery until I told neurologist ;I wanted off meds & have quality of life back. That was the key word quality of life. I was then referred to the neurosurgeon Dr. Ellis. I was referred for the Gamma Knife procedure, but chose MVD for long term. I went back to work in 6 weeks,the first two were very tough!! Work is getting a little easier; but still feel like I'm only about 70 percent. When I shaved & went down the river in my bass boat this caused alot of my flare ups of TN. I haven't had many headaches since surgery, but I do get them for a minute when I bend over.This may be coming from the fluid on the ear.
Hope you are doing well.
|
Wow, back to work after 6 weeks? Maybe that was too soon? I'm not sure because I never asked my doctor what the full recovery time is. After 2 months I made the decision on my own and started working again. I also feel totally exhausted after working an 8 hour day. I have tried to stop taking my Carbamazepine (Tegretol) but if I go under 300mg a day I start to get some tingling in my cheek and lower lip. At least I have gone down to 300mg a day from 1000mg a day. That is the only medication I'm still taking. I have not had any of the severe TN pain though.
My doctors discussed possible Gamma Knife but instead decided on MVD surgery. I'm not sure what the deciding factor was. The 3 months prior to surgery was just a blur anyway. I'm sure it was because of all the meds (Carbamazepine, Baclofen, Amitripyline, Alprazolam and Lortab) I was taking at the time.