When I came home from Mayo clinic, the left side of my face was numb as the result of partially cutting the trigeminal nerve and going back 3 days later to sever the trigeminal nerve. I stayed there for three weeks. I know that it sounds good to have your face numb after having so much pain but it is a trade, Your TN pain gone but you will have a different pain, mimicking the T.N. pain.Although you are numb, the horrible pain comes to life and stays.It is called Anesthesia Delorosa.The first morning home I woke up and I felt as if half my face was missing. I had to look in the mirror to get reassurance that it was still there. I touched, looked, and then broke down. I had a feeling of disbelief that all this had happened to me. My husband held me as I screamed out "I can't do this, Oh God I can't do this."As time went on I had to accept it, as it is and will be a very big part of my life.
When you are numb on one side of your face, eating can be
challenging as part of your lip is numb. The food or drink can come out on that side of your mouth and you don't even know it's there. I use a bib or what I am eating will drop on my shirt. I had to have a tube put in my ear and have ear infections easily. My eye was too dry so The Doctors put a plug in my eye and we had to experiment to get it right. I don't have all my hearing on the numb side.My nose is always dry in the nostril on that side and I get sinus infections.
Being numb is a hell all of it's own.
Thanks for listening, Doodle bug7

Doodle,

I have been following your posts for a few months now, but rarely post. Please know that there is at least one person out here knowing how you feel and cheering you on.

I have the numbness over the right side of my face after balloon compression in May. While THE pain is gone, the needles, numbness, pressure, just general discomfort lives on. I always have sores in my mouth from biting either my tongue, or lips, or cheeks; It is annoying to lie on that side on my pillow; My ear inermittently loses hearing.....etc., etc., etc....

We CAN live through it, with it, around it, but we CAN'T do it alone....know that you aren't alone.

Fowki, I am glad to here from you. Not too many people understand this delima. The words "You are not alone"
are very powerful words and can mean so much to someone who really needs to hear it. The fear of being alone can be such a tragedy.
I can't sleep on the numb side as well, cause of the way it feels. Not at all comfy. At first I used the heating pad but now use ice.
Have you experienced WHITE NOISE in your ear? Sometimes it can get loud and very annoying. When I said something to the Doc, he said "Turn up the T.V."and drown it out. Ya right!
When I was initially diagnosed with T.N. my Doctor said to me "You know people used to commit suicide when they had this". I said "really". It kind of went in one ear and out the other. I knew this had nothing to do with me.I dismissed the thought. Ten years later I lay in the pain unit between surgeries at Mayo clinic. I begged the Lord to
take me. I remembered the words the Doctor told me.
Believe, Doodle bug7

Yes, I get the "white noise", sometimes so bad I couldn't hear the T.V. if it were full blast! Stupid doctor!

No, we are not alone. Perhaps not everyone can relate specifically to what we are experiencing, but they don't have to in order to love and support us - I had to learn to accept my limitations and take the help offered to me. Very tough after a career in law enforcement!

I can completely understand why this condition would drive someone to suicide! Not just the pain, but all of the annoyances nad inconveniences that come with the treatments and "cures". Sometimes I almost think the "cure" is worse than the disease!!

Take care, my friend......