Hello Shaunna, and welcome to Neurotalk

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a battle that I too have faced for a long time with my MS. It was my 'onset' symptom as far as I can tell.

Do you believe the heat sensation is coming from the medication? I'm not familiar with that drug. I ask because while I have T.N., I also experience burning in my head (left side primarily - also where I have the T.N. attacks, except when I have 'atypical' T.N. attacks that are less severe and affect both sides of the head), and burning in my mouth.

I have to take 2 medications, one to control the burning in the skull/head, the other to help control the burning in the mouth.

Welcome Shaunna, nice to meet you.

I don't have TN, thank heavens, but some here do and I am so sorry for your pain..

I hope you pull up a chair and join us.

Feel better soon..

Hello Shaunna ..... welcome to NeuroTalk.

I am very sorry that you are suffering from this symptom. I too have had it, once, and I thank the Lord that it's not recurred. I was treated with a different antiepileptic medication to Dilantin, but I ended up with a course of cortisone to rid myself of that terrible pain. Maybe that's something to think of if the symptoms continues much longer.

May I suggest that you have a look at our Trigeminal Neuralgia Forum because the pain is the same, no matter what the cause.

This is a really good thread for explanations:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread27175.html

... and there are more up in the stickies as well.

Here's the link to that forum. Do go have a read, even if you don't post.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum26.html

I hope it eases soon for you.

Thanks for the response. What kind of meds do you take for the burning in your head?

For the head I take Cesamet (Nabilone). I had to go through a pain doctor here to have it prescribed. It's a government controlled medication (Canada).

Seems to be the medication that's provided me the most relief. Seeing a pain specialist was one of the best 'decisions' I've made in managing my MS and symptoms (including the T.N.).

Sorry to hear about your pain. I have had ATN for 11 years. I had Microvascular decompression surgery with Dr. Peter Janetta several years ago. It only worked for about 8 months.
Can you tell me if Cesamet is the same or better that Vicoden. I am taking that for the pain, but seems not to be working very good anymore.
Thanks.

It's a completely different medication. I've never had Vicoden. Cesamet is a cannabinoid that's been synthetically made in the lab, however it chemically resembles THC that's found in marijuana. It's a medication that's been on the market for some time now, though generally used for applications such as the side effects of cancer treatments, or to increase appetite in HIV/AIDS patients.

It's also extremely effective for helping to ease the pain of certain types of pain, including nerve pain. That's where the pain specialist came in for me. My neurologist recommended we try a cannabinoid, and I had to go through referral to the pain doc for the prescription. I'm not sure how it works for these medications in other locations.