Doesn't sound at all crazy to me! Not after the pain you have experienced!

So far so good for me. When I went off the meds after the rhizotomy years ago I had a lot of numbness which I didn't like except that it made me feel safe. When that numbness worn off over the years, I started to worry. And I worry a little now. Fortunately I've been too busy to do too much of it.

Hi Jean, Happy New Year! Let's hope it's a good one. So far I've been doing great this week with my latest decrease. After about 3 days I started having this weird sort of pain in my ear/cheek area. So I just took the evening neurontin a couple hours early and it went away as soon as I took it. All of this cold and snowy weather has been a great test for me, as that used to be a trigger also. I hope everything is going great with you. Still pain free? I hope so. Take care, Laureen

Hi, Laureen,

I'm glad you are doing well! As of yesterday I have been off the meds for 3 weeks! Another week and I'll have passed the point where the pain came back after the balloon procedure. That's the point when I'll feel I can say the MVD really worked. The cold brings on a mild ache sometimes but it doesn't last. Last night I started having some pain around my eye - the eye that hurt after the balloon procedure. Not sure what that is about but I don't expect it to be a problem. I'm having sinus problems and heartburn problems, too. So I don't feel great but certainly better than when I was on the meds and still having breakthrough pain!!

I hope you continue to do well!

Hi Jean,
Wow, 3 weeks of being of all meds. That's awesome and very encouraging to me. I will make another decrease on Sunday and then I'll be down to 6 pills per day. That's a long way from the 30 I was taking at one point. As far as being achey once in a while from the cold and such, I think we might have that for the rest of our lives. The nerve will probably always be a little more sensitive. But I can live with that. We're getting a lot of snow here. I measured on our back deck and there's 24 inches total from this whole week! I've had enough of that already. Take care.
Laureen

Today it is FOUR weeks without TN meds! I'm pretty confident that they must be out of my system by now. It looks like the operation was a complete success!!! What a relief! It's still hard to be too excited, since the future is unknown and there are no guarantees. And you don't forget the fear of the pain. But hopefully in time I won't think about it much.

Yes, I think there will always be some sensitive places. I still have some numbness from years ago but that's almost all gone and doesn't bother me.

Wow, 24 inches of snow! That's a lot. We have had plenty, though not that much. The cold has really bothered me this year, but each year I learn to dress better for it. This year I've added a lap robe/afghan in the car, which helps.

You are down to 6 pills now (plus Tegretol)? I hope it is going well! Keep me posted.

SIX weeks off the meds and all is well! What a relief! Laureen, how are you doing?

Hi Jean,
Wow six weeks without medications. That is so wonderful, I'm so happy for you. Everything is going well with me also. This Sunday I should take away my last neurontin pill and then after 2 weeks I will start reducing my tegretol! I can't believe I've gotten this far.
Take care,
Laureen

Laureen, that is wonderful. I look forward to celebrating each step down, so keep me posted and I hope everything continues to go well!