Trigeminal Neuralgia

[Willyboy92]

I just had a nerve block procedure done for my trigeminal neuralgia pain in my face.  My face was sore but after 3 days, the pain in my face became more painful and I felt more electrical current shooting onto my lower teeth area.  Why does it seem like my facial pain just got worse after this procedure.  

[hcollier78]

Hi - I feel your pain :( I was diagnosed with atypical TN recently after 3 months of agony (mine won't let up). I had a V2 block last Monday (6/16). The first 10-12 hours were great - pain free. However, I woke up that night in excrucitating pain! Thank goodness I still have some percocet (athough they hardly help). The top right jaw hurts, but the bottom right is worse than ever... and it only bothered my slightly before. I was told to wait 3-5 days for it to "kick in", but I'm still waiting. The doc told me to expect to be back in pain before it started working, but neglected to mention this! Are we the extreme case, or is it like this for everyone? Needless to say, next time I'm going to skip the nerve block altogether and go for the radiofrequency. (Also, is it just me, or did the nerve block hurt like HELL?!)

[Willyboy92]

To hcollier,
Thank you for your comments and yes that nerve block hurt like hell.  The doctor who did the nerve block could not explain why I am in more pain than I was before I did this nerve block.  The steroids are suppose to kick in but so far nothing.  Did I make the wrong decision in doing this procedure.  My right jaw hurts like hell also.  I am taking carbamazepine now after taking gapendin and neurotin which did not help.  Believe me, I am not going for no more neve blocks.  If you do go for the radiofrequency, let me know how it went.  At this point, I am willing to take anything just so I can have my life back.

[hcollier78]

I am on carbamazepine (200mg twice a day) - still ramping up after coming off neurontin (2400mg). I certainly will not get another block. Today, for some reason, the pain got even *WORSE* - I have no idea what is going on. I'm going to call the doctor who did the block and see if he can explain this and see if I can move up the radiofrequency. I spent several hours in the hospital today to get a morphine shot. Thank goodness for morphine. It seems to be one of the only reliable pai killers which helps with this terrible pain. I just want to function normally again, too, so I feel your pain. I tried working regularly as long as I could, but in pain and/or on painkillers, it's so hard. And, with the recent changes, it's impossible. Do you have "traditional" TN or atypical? Your story sounds do much like mine... How long have you had it? Thanks for sharing. It's nice to know there's someone else out there who understands, although I wish I could snap my fingers and have us all be better!

[Willyboy92]

Thanks for writing back.  I do not know if I have traditional or atypical.  I had this trigimenial neuralgia pain for six years now and it just became worse last year.  The pain got worse in August 2007 till now.  Does your face feel numb after the nerve block you had.  Did you get any headaches after that procedure.  I seem to be getting headaches now but I am not sure if it was due to this procedure.    The carbamazepine seems to help with the pain.  Its seems to dull the sharp pain on my face. This medicine seems to help with the pain but I also got hives from it.  It seems like every anticonvulsant I took gave me hives.  Had you gotten any reaction to the medication.  I wish me and you can find something that works.  Hope all goes well with the radiofrequency.  Let me know if that works for you.