| Hi - I have bilateral TN because of having MS. I had RF on one side about a year ago and now because the pain on the left side is increasing constantly I am researching avenues for me to take regarding this.
GK is one area that I am researching but I would also appreciate your opinion in how beneficial a pain management clinic might be for myself before I go the route of any surgical procedure. Thank you very much for your input. I am getting to my wits end with the pain and the fear of the pain. Deb
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Hello Deb!
A pain management clinic may be more useful for chronic/constant atypical facial pain than for trigeminal neuralgia, which is a fairly well defined condition. In our FAQ and archival files we discuss the treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia and thus I will not repeat them all here. If you have already tried Tegretol, Dilantin, Neurontin, and baclofen with no success, a gycerol injection or radiofrequency lesioning may be your only effective options, although numbness on both sides of the face can be an undesirable thing, especially if the jaw/mouth is involved. Microvascular decompression is not indicated in trigeminal neuralgia caused by MS, since there is no vessel to decompress in such cases. If you would be interested in seeing a Cleveland Clinic neurologist or neurosurgeon for an evaluation, our number is 1-800-223-2273 (ask for neurology appointments extension 45559). Please remember that information provided on the forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only and that the actual diagnosis and treatment of your specific medical condition should be strictly in conjunction with your treating physician(s). Good Luck!
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