hello... I'm seriously considering having gamma knike radiation treatment. Can anyone please tell me their experiences with this? thanks, karen

BTT....anyone?

I'm awaiting authorization from my insurance company,

Fowki,

So if they approve you, you're going through with it. Who is the doctor and where are you having it done?

Also, what does "BTT" mean?

BTT = Bump To Top

Yes, I am going to do it. The Doc is Kenneth Ott here in San Diego.

Mine will be slightly different as I will be done under general anesthesia due to my Parkinson's.

Fowki,
I hope you'll post about your experience. I've only found a couple of posts through searches where people have described their experience with this procedure. I also hope you'll get a favorable outcome and some relief from the pain.

Good luck Fowki !!!!

Keep us posted please !!! I have an aunt who is considering this procedure, so, I will be glad if you tell us about your experience.

My wife was hospitalized for pain management of TN last September. Gamma Knife was the least invasive surgical correction and since she has MS, we thought it would be a good start. Immediately following the procedure, she had a mild episode of pain then was pain free for the past six month. Just last week she started having "less severe" pain episodes, periodically throughout the day. Although the pain is described as less severe, she is under the constant threat of the condition worsening. We are now considering Micro Vascular Decompression.
MVD (compared to Gamma Knife) seems to have a higher success rate with TN. At least that's what the on-line information says.
Hope you feel well.
John

Had the GK 04/30. All went smoothly, and other than screw site tenderness and a vague headache off and on, so far so good!

I had the gamma knife done five years ago. I was totally pain free the same night and it stayed that way for six months. Then, I got numbness from the corner of my right eye to my chin. It has never gone away but it is NOT pain. It's numbness and pressure not unlike sinus pressure.
They tell me after 5 years the TN can come back but I'm hoping I'm an exception. The procedure itself only involves a small amount of pain when they attach the frame with screws, but after TN it's not much to take.
The percentage of patients who get the numbness is low so I still think it's the best way to go.
My Dr. says if the TN does return then my only option is an MVD because the nerve already has numbness. Well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
By the way, you should be awake for the procedure. A friend had the GK when under sedation and she ended up with AD. Hope I've been some help.
Best Regards, metal1

Hi Karen. I have Atypical Unilateral TN on the left side (jaw area only Thank God). I've suffered with TN since approximately 2004. It seemed to be seasonal in the beginning and worsened over the years. I tried everything from dental bite guards, to chiropractics, to acupuncture, including the GK treatment this last September 26th. I was hoping to get somewhere between 3 and 10 years of relief. It's a fairly easy procedure with little side effects. I'm 42 years old and in relatively good health other that the TN. The GK treatment takes a few months to really kick in.

The GK treatment only gave me about 60 days of pain free living before the electric shocks started up again. I'm not 'back' on 1200mg of Tegretol per day in the fuzzy state of mind in order to somewhat control the pain.

I'll give this advice. Go to a notable Neuro Surgeon and have him or her do a MRI. They are the best MRI interpreters and will tell you how many vessels are compressing your trigeminal nerve. Don't mess around with any other methods of treatment other than the MVD (unless you physically can't undergo a surgery).

I'm finally scheduled for my MVD operation on 4/3 and can't wait. Sure I'm anxious about all the possible things you will read about MVD ops, but I would have done it years ago if I'd had an expert read my MRI. I would have save tens of thousands of dollars in other useless treatments (yes, herbal treatments too) and gone for the MVD. It's the only treatment considered permanent with a 98-99% likelihood of curing your ailment.

I hope this information save you time, money, and most importantly, undue suffering of your TN affliction.

God Bless!