After a couple years of 'not so bad pains' and a dentist later with no results, I had a full-blown attack of what turned out to be TN. Neuro perscribed Neurontin 300mg tid, which seems to work well for me.

My quetion is this: While the medication is working well to the point that I can eat and speak normally now without worry, brushing my teeth, blowing my nose and washing my face, if done wrong, can create the pain all over again. Does TN only come in "attacks" or is there this 'break-through' pain even when applying pressure wrong?

This is the most WICKED pain in the world - in my humble opinion

Thanks for any insight...

Dear Becki:

If you are getting break through pains you need to tell your neurologist about this. Sometimes they can adjust the pain meds by adding another to the mix; upping the dosage of the present med; possibly changing how the meds are taken such as the time of day. I am not a doctor or nurse, but have heard of these various changes being made that stopped the breakthrough pains. But you must keep your neurologist informed of how your pains are not being completely covered. When I had breakthrough pains before my evening dose of Lamictal, my neurologist added another drug - which combination covered all the pain and no more breakthroughs.

I am a fellow Minnesotan! I had the Balloon Compression in 2001 - which took away the terrible pains - but I do have what some call dysesthesia, which is 24 hour a day pressure, sometimes burning, tingling, itching, tickling, on the right side of my face and scalp - my TN side. My surgeon said I was the only one of his patients that had this and I believe him. Someone has to make up the statistics of 5% - 7% having this after effect and I am one of them. However I will take this instead of the excruciating pains.

Let us know how things go.

Shirley H.

Hi Shirley~

Thanks for your advice...I'll contact my neuro and see what he can do for me.
I developed TN from MS lesion(s) and this first full-blown attack of it was absolutely monsterous! What unbelievable pain; I'd have never dreamt!

I found the links in the above thread - there's good info there.


Glad to meet a fellow (frozen) Minnesotan!