I don't know if anyone else has had this problem or not. I have been seeing the same Neuro guy for five years. When I went to him the first time I asked him if he was familiar with Trigeminal Neuralgia. He assured me he was. I was already diagnosed and already on Tegretol and Lyrica, so all he has done for me is continue to write the precriptions. I was having break through pain about 3 years ago. My Neuro guy was out of town, so my primary care guy gave me a prepcription for Vicodin and it helped between doses of my Tegretol and Lyrica. He continued to give it to me until recently. He said my Neurologist should be giving it to me. So I went to see Neuro Guy and he said No. He wanted me to have surgery instead. I refused to do that (I am 70 years old and not in real good health). I made an appointment yesterday. He told me he could not help me because Trigeminal Neuralgia is a Chronic pain. I said why did you take me as a patient. I told him I was not going through the holidays in pain. He once again said he was not going to give me any pain meds. We were at a stalemate for about half an hour, neither was willing to give in. I told him I was going to turn him in to Medicare for fraud.
He grabbed his prescrition pad and wrote me a a script for Vicodin.
I admitted to him that I get mean when I have pain for so long.
When I left he said "I want to see you again in 3 months" I said "For what?, you have admitted you can't do anything for me". So we left it that way. I made an appointment with a Pain Management Clinic in the next town, and they promised on the phone that they had no problem giving me pain meds if I thought it helped. Just wondering if anyone else has run into this.

Well here's my two cents on the subject of neurologists: They aren't woth a #%&$!!!!! I just finished reading an article in Newsweek about epilepsy and the Dr. they were interviewing said when he was in school he entertained the idea of becoming a neurologist but that it is widely considered in the medical community that neurologists are doctors who don't do anything. Food for thought. I have seen so many neurologists that I have lost count and not one of them were any help. I was told by them that there was nothing more they could do for me that my primary wasn't doing. I have even seen a few who didn't know much about TN either. That amazes me because it is supposed to be a disease in their field. If I were you I would definitely pursue going to pain management. They will help you with pain meds but don't expect much more unless you get really lucky and get a doctor who wants to help. My pain management doctor doesn't even see me after my initial visit. I just have to go in once a month and wait a couple of hours to get my prescriptons. I wish the best of luck to you and keep us posted about your appt. I hope it goes well

My pain management specialist was the doctor who decided to try PENS unit
aka stimulator implant even tho he did have a neuro with him during the surgeries my pain doc was the one who never gave up trying to help find a way to manage my pain with the many medications and when medications did not work ,... that saved my life. I would most defiantly see at least 2 pain doctors or more .
sending positive energy for your apt.

PEACE
BMW

Thank you two so much. I was beginning to think I had been in pain so long, I had lost my mind. I am so angry at the neurologist I could scream, but that would make my face hurt. I had avoided going to pain management, now I cannot wait to go. If they will provide me with the other TN meds I take I will cut my neurologist loose soooo quick his bank account will cry.
Thanks again and have a HAPPY HOLIDAY!

TOGETHER WE CAN WIN THIS WAR!

That's appalling! It sounds like others have been helped by pain doctors so go for it!

I do want to say that I have worked with a neurologist at a good sized hospital for years, ever since my internist felt i needed more than he could help me with, and I feel he has been a great help. He never tells me what I need to do - just presents the available options. And when I needed pain meds for break through pain he gave me what I needed.

If in the future you think a neurologist is needed, there are better ones out there!

I had a wonderful Neurologist before this current one, and believe it or not he treated me for no cost at all. He is the one who told me if the pain broke through then try a pain med. It worked. Too bad he retired.
I know I was angry when I typed the first post about this, but I do realize all doctors are different just like all all TN patients are different. This site has been a Godsend to me. It is nice to hear from people who understand the pain.
I feel so hopeless sometimes. If I go to ER, their eyes glaze over when I mention Trigeminal Neuralgia. Since I am not bleeding, have no temperature and no broken bones sticking out they have no idea what to do. Oh Well enough complaining. I thank you all for understanding.

Macy

Macy,
Still, I'm sorry that you have to go through all of this - that was poor treatment and I think that your reply was spot-on. Going to a pain management specialist can work out well - there are ones that know all about neuropathic pain management strategies, ie.: the anti seizure meds and the anti depressants. Mine gives me dilaudid, btw, which is 7 times stronger than morphine, which is a heck of a lot stronger than vicodin. Furthermore, and forgive me please if this sounds wrong, I don't mean it to, and I am just being pragmatic, but there is no reason to worry about addiction in a 70 year old patient - at this age you are simply concerned with pain control. Just establish a baseline of usage, where they can see that you take about the same amount each month, and they should be fine continuing to prescribe. There are certain ways that addicts act, and pain specialists are sharp at identifying it, so you should be fine. Don't worry - you will find the right doctor, and if they are apathetic like this last one, find a new one. Mine is always intellectually interested in his work, and it shows.
Good luck, and they have no darn right to treat you that way. Keep on telling us how things go, ok?

Lily

YOU GUYS MAKE ME FEEL SO GOOD. Yes Lily I do not think at 70 I am going to be become a"crack whore". I kept telling them I had enough brain cells left to not take too much, but they treated me like a second class citizen..Seems like this Neuroglist just wants to sit behind his high priced desk and look down his nose at me. I bet he knows very little or nothing about TN.
Keep on having good thoughts. Have a nice day. It really bothers me because he has some very sick patients, not able to fight back.

Macy

Awww, Macy, you just made my day with that joke - that gave me a big grin. I hope that you are feeling well today.

Lily

Almost nothing. They can do the same thing I can which is coming up with different prescription. I just need them to write me one.

Wedmd is your friend.