Welcome! It's nice you are looking for ways to help your sister-in-law. I hadn't heard of Trigeminal Neuropathy before but maybe someone here has. Was this diagnosed by a neurologist? What medicines was she given?

Yes. She's been diagnosed by multiple specialists from neurologists to endodontists. She went out of state for two weeks to be treated and diagnosed at Mayo clinic. She has been on SO many meds. They tried seizure medications She has been on a TON with little luck: carbamazepine, Clonozapam, depakote,Diazepam, Lyrica, Oxcarbazepine, topamax and teGrotol... There may have been more but these are the ones I remember. She's also been through many different types of pain meds from Vicodin, norco, oxycodone, dilaudid, morphine,OxyContin, and fentanyl patch.

She made the decision to take herself off the fentanyl patch because she felt too dependent on it and she HATES being on meds. She also cut down her dosage of oxycontin in half for the same reason. She recently went back to the oxycodone because her pain levels have been extremely high and the other meds were offering no relief. Prior to this injury she never so much as took an aspirin and now you'd swear she's on enough to kill a horse. As far as I know she's currently on neurontin a couple times a day, norco for the pain and oxycodone as a break through med. Thats it for pain relief but I think she may be on something for sleep too.

I really hope I can find some new ideas here. Thank you. Peace and love !!

Has she worked with or seen a psychologist who deals with chronic pain patients? There are alternative ways to dealing with chronic pain that they can help her acquire. Given that she is being seen at Mayo, have they suggested this to her? If not, it would be a good place to start and I would ask their opinion as to what is best. I have done a lot of work on Mindfulness for chronic pain and it has helped me a lot so I throw this out there based on my own experience. I also received this advice from a long time sufferer of TN who also used these tools. They don't get rid of the pain, they just help you understand it and deal with it better. I also take meds for my TN - baclofen, ultram, and klonopin when needed. I do hope you find something that helps her. Take care

ee

There is another thread (discussion) of this topic at http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...d.php?t=148286

my daughter was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathy. which i understand is damage to the nerves. she will be having Microvascular Decompression surgery this Tuesday. Scared to death! i am sorry i did not introduce myself, I am Donna. Glad to find this!