Hi Cheryl,

I am hanging in there. The pain seems to be much better. I didn't even take any Advil yesterday, so I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

My face is still numb, but I think it may be improving slightly. It's just so hard to tell because it's everywhere and I've been tricked before. It tends to get better in certain places, then the next day it comes back with a vengeance!!

The jaw pain/tightness is getting somewhat better. I will be seeing my neurosurgeon Wednesday for my 6 week follow up.

I drove for the first time yesterday. I know I could have done it sooner, but my neck felt so tight I didn't want to chance it. I guess you have to pull the band aid off sooner of later. Everything went fine. Now I'm mobile again!!

I will be starting B-12 today and checking in very soon.

Good luck with your injections and keep me posted

You have to be easy on your self my friend . You just had MVD your nerve was manipulated and Major surgery like brain surgery . It takes time to heal and bounce back. Do not be so hard on yourself if a bad day or a little slip back to pain happens. It sometimes seems like two steps forwards then one step back. One day at a time . Thats the dang hard part the waiting and pushing threw to the next day. I am so happy to hear you are driving again .It is getting back to doing the small things one by one that feels so good like a tiny bit of freedom in your pocket . Love that type of update. I think the vit B will help. Fingers crossed for both of you to keep rebounding and reach the light at the end of the tunnel and able to controll the ugly pain enough to get back to "freedom" and good days. Sorry my contacts are takeing a bit to reply i know with long holiday it would be like that. Theyll be by at least a couple of em soon . Low pain healing thoughts and Peace BMW

Although I didn't experience any facial numbness after my surgery, I do have a spot in the back of my throat that I can't feel anymore. What I had happen is my taste & hearing changed (things tasted somewhat metallic & certain sounds were off) for about 3 months before I started returning to normal. After 5 months, I was back to tasting & hearing normally.

I have noticed that food does taste different, maybe then I won't want sweets anymore LOL. My ear does pop a lot and feels like there is water in it. For some reason I think I have every symptom you can possibly have after MVD!!

How are you doing with pain? Any relapses?

Unfortunately, I have relapsed bretty badly since my surgeries. After about 3 months, the pain started to come back in my left ear. It wasn't as bad as it was before the operations, but by about 5 months post-surgery, I was back to having daily pain. I really hope you don't have the same happen to you. Unfortunately the doctors I'm dealing with in Alaska have no idea how to properly treat my condition, so we're making it up as they go.

Today was a bad day for me. Answering phone calls over the weekend aggravated my nerve more than I had though, so today my ears were a lot more sensitive to triggers & I experience more frequent attacks. Thankfully tomorrow is my day off, so I can keep everything away from my head & let it get back to normal.

I'm so sorry you're surgeries didn't help. I'm sending positive thoughts your way in the hopes your doctor's will figure out a way to control your pain.

Rest up on your day off!!

Going tomorrow for my 6 week follow up and hope to get some answers about my jaw. I recently had my braces taken off and I'm wondering if this could be contributing to the pain. I guess having it all done at age 43 probably wasn't the best idea!!

Itzag you should get as much info and copies of things that have helped others and then suggest /show to your docs . I know its the poops when you have something doctors dont know or have little experience with treating. its like you yourself have to guide, point,...kick them into the right direction .suggests meds or other options to them docs if they are stuck on neutral.I am sorry the operation didnt help as much as it has for others. I know more of the latter where it doesnt last for life.but it still helps thousands of others because each of us and or symptoms are different. as well as the surgeon . are you taking any meds now? did any meds help before the surgery? sending waves of low pain and good energy at you and relax on your day off.
Tracy hope your follow up is good and leads to some relief and answers.Also its nice to see you both connecting but I wish it was over something more positive. :grouphug: Peace
BMW (Tina)

I went for my 6 week follow up yesterday and found out the jaw issues I was having are NORMAL!! Apparently the trigeminal nerve affects two muscles that contribute to chewing. Who would have known? He told me heat or massage can help. Because of so much manipulation of my nerve ( 3 veins wrapped around it) this can happen.

I am very relieved and will start using these these tips. The massage actually feels awesome!!

I go back in 6 more weeks and he is very confident the numbness and jaw issues will resolve. I will continue to keep faith that this will get better with time. I guess we all just have to take it one day at a time

Even after everything I've been through I can honestly say I would do the surgery all over again. I will take the numbness and stiff jaw over the pain I was having before. My hope is to remain pain free!!

Thank you to everyone who has responded to may complaints. I will be updating everyone on my continued progress. I know where to come when I have bad days and I know there will be more with the continued decrease of medications.

Tracy,
I wanted to check up on you sooner, but have had out-of-town company for the past few days. They left this morning. It's dark and rainy outside and I'm sitting on the couch enjoying my quiet, empty house.

I'm glad you got good news at your follow-up visit. That's so encouraging! The odds are way in your favor that the surgery will be successful and you'll be able to get off all your medications.

Did you have to take steroids after your surgery? I think that was the worst part of my recovery. I ate constantly, but nothing tasted right. And I was in a terrible mood. I now have a lot of sympathy for those who have to take steroids regularly.

Did you get the excruciating zapping pains with your TN? Did it come on all of a sudden or gradually? How long did you have it before you had surgery?

I had never heard of trigeminal neuralgia until I got it. It took a couple of months before I could even pronounce it correctly. I'm so glad I finally found a place where I can talk to others with the same condition.

I hope you're doing well, Cheryl

:cool: happy to read your follow up was good yesterday Tracy. You gotta give your body yourself time to heal. The doc is Right your nerve was manipulated allot.As well as your jaw, neck . massage and warm /cold compress should help. YES t.n. sister KEEP Faith things will get better ! Your just starting to mend . Things will continue to get better one day at a time. :grouphug: