i agree that an increase in meds may be necessary. Fortunately my pain is controlled with 400 mg of carbamazepine per day. I do still have some side effects such as drousyness but it goes away. The pharmacist suggested a slow release tablet which gives more consistency and causes less side effects. Because I still have mild symptoms the neurologist suggested I stay on the meds.
Last year my pain totally disappeared after 3 months without medication but it came back with a vengeance this spring and I never want to go through that pain again.
Good luck.. I hope you find relief soon.
Had Microvascular Decompression with Dr. Peter Jannetta at Allegheny Hospital in Pittsburgh in 2006 found 2 arteries and vein compressing my Trigeminal nerve and another vessel penetrating through the facial nerve.
I woke up from surgery with relief of the nerve pain. Prior to surgery a combination of steroidal and non-steroidal medications along with narcotics helped but did not ever control the pain. I wanted off those drugs! I tried all of the seizure meds....to no avail.
Good Luck and God Bless, surgery for me was the way back to myself, to work, and to life.
Talk to your doctor about possibly increasing the pain medication. I was first on gabapentin which didn't work for me. Changed to tegretol which made me zombie-like and also didn't work for me. Now I'm on trileptal. It was a slow process, but the doctor increased the dosage until the pain was gone -- I now take 600 mg 3 times a day.
I was told that Motrin or any type of similar pain killer doesn't work on this type of pain. Again, speak to your doctor about it.
Once my pain was controlled by medication, I asked my doctor what we could do to fix this. He suggested a Gamma Knife. I had one about 3 weeks ago. However, it takes 4-6 months before we'll know if it worked or not.
There are something like 5 different surgeries that can be done. It all depends on what caused your TN and your doctor would know best which surgery would be best for you.
The main thing is to give your doctor feedback and help the doctor figure out what's the best thing in your particular case.
Good luck and hopefully your pain will be controlled soon.
Take care!