I am just wondering how many people in this community find that excercising brings on flare-ups of TN pain? I am currently trying to excercise (with diet), and find that I can't push myself, or I have terrible flare-ups! As if being in pain isn't enough, I have to be fat as well?!

Before my MVD (Jan 20/09) ANY increase in heart rate made my face scream.

Since the MVD, I have tried to trigger the pain by getting on my elliptical - with no result at all.

My Neurosurgeon said that an artery was compressing the nerve, and so every heart beat caused the nerve to get hit. Increase in heart rate = increast in # of hits to the nerve = more pain.

I get your frustration re: exercise. I feel so fat and out of shape. Can't wait to recover properly and get back to 'normal'.

Good luck!

CAT

p.s. I should also add, that a flare up would happen too if I was overly stressed.

Well, needless to say, I know what you mean about stress bringing on flare-ups! And seeing as how we are moving to another city come May.1st, the pain has been worse than usual... Plus all 3 of my kids have been sick all week, AND to top it all off, I sprained my ankle @ work on Monday! What more could this world throw at me?! lol I have an appointment with a new neurologist in 2 months, and I am really looking forward to it, although I am a little skeptical because my last one pretty much told me that I was lieing about it all. (Because I have pain on both sides.) Although my family doctor said that, although it's rare, it does happen.) The she (my old neurologist) scared the crap out of me by telling me that I needed a scan because maybe I have a growth on my brain stem or some such thing... Then she moved, and I never heard any thing else. So needless to say, if it wasn't for my family doctor, I would be in really bad shape right now. (I live in a small rural town in Southern Alberta, so getting an appointment with specialists takes FOREVER.) I told my fam. doctor that I'm starting to slide back into depression because not only do I have to deal with pain every single f**ing day, I absolutely HATE the way I look.... (I just got over Post-Partum Depression...) Anyways, sorry about my rant... But nobody around here knows how the h**l I feel!

Lots of us HERE know how you feel.

Here's another VERY FRIENDLY place. We hang out a lot. C'mon over!

http://www.livingwithtn.com/


CAT

I also have the same problem i have to do very light excercise like walking and even sometimes that is too much for me it seems to really make the pain alot worse and i get flares up for the whole and even a few days after it is ghorrible especially since i am trying to loose weight!