in so much pain don't know what to do

[elusion]

I have been having symptoms since last friday and it's only the second time I've ever experienced this but it's driving me up the wall. It seems to happen about 6 times an hr where the whole right side of my face feels like its going to explode. My gums almost burn/itch and feel like my teeth are going to pop out from pressure, my jaw area where u get tmj pain is sharp and shooting, my cheek aches and my right nostril feels like its on fire. It's so unbearable I want to scream when it happens.

I really don't know what I would do if I didn't get the relief inbetween the flare ups. I have found that putting my finger up my nose and pressing on the middle part seems to relieve some of the pain from my gums when it's flaring up but now my nose is all sore from constant pressing.

I wish I could sleep more as that is the only time I am not in pain, but I have 3 kids one who is only 17 months and our daily life is full of normal kids stuff so I cannot rest until they are in bed. I don't know what to do. My dr. put me in tegratol and percosets, the tegratol hasn't kicked in yet as I have only been taking it since Monday and the percocets do absolutely nothing. I am going to see a neurologist this afternoon.

please help me figure out how to deal with the pain. I feel like I am not being a good mom right now and it is so hard to get through the day. how long do these attacks last?

thanks so much :(

[wembley9]

Just wanted to add my voice in support.  Like tribble I have no children and am in awe of anyone who can cope with this much pain and raise them.

I am 31 years old and have had TN for 18 months now with two short periods of remission the last of which I am just coming out of now, hence being on here again trying to psych myself up for the coming pain and going back on the drugs again.

The peak of my pain was when I got shingles at Christmas.  This magnified the TN pain to the point I believed I would not get through it.  Two things finally got me there.  The main one being the right support person, completely out of the blue.  Though my boyfriend has always been very caring and supportive but he has never done any reading on TN, believing that he knows all about it, living with it every day.  I can somewhat understand his perspective though it just seems to me he would still be so enlightened by a little research.

After 11 months of pain and feeling like no one I knew understood me at all, a friend of mine got on the internet and did some research.  She had come to look after me at my worst, after 3 days in screaming agony with almost no sleep and driving my family and partner to the point of no longer coping.  I was pacing around and grabbing with all the strength I could onto the edge of the table, it sounds stupid but for me at this point this was a way of channeling the pain out.  Immediately on seeing how bad I looked she got on the internet to understand what was going on.  She took me to an A&E and I finally got a drug combination that worked.  I was already on gabapentin and they increased the dose to 3000mg/day. Also adding clonazepam (once at night), this allowed me to sleep through the pain finally.  

Honestly, I think it was the clonazepam that got me through that period and I would recommend it as a good option for times of peak pain.  I hope that info helps you in some small way, my specialist tells me that there are still many options to try if ever things peak again and the above combo doesn't do the trick.  Anyway, good luck and I truly hope you find someone unexpected in your life like I did to help you get through, teamed with the right drug combo.

The other reason I am posting this is because these forums have been invaluable to me, it breaks my heart knowing others are living with this life altering pain, but it also gives me so much hope.  There are people who have found stability for their pain and managed to overcome it and more than anything else, who understand what I am going through.

Thanks to you all and my best wishes :)

[tribble123]

just want to say you totally express how i feel right now - the need to scream and absolute inability to cope with the pain.   I have no kids, don't know how you manage!

[hava]

For longer term this will help you with Tn.
To to get relief from Tn trigeminal neuralgia naturally, the full pranayam exercises are described below.You can do this alongside any medication.
This works gradually, so allow time (3 months to 9 months) and concentrate fully on the breathing. Keep a record of episodes and how you are feeling. This will show you a trend.Avoid cold drinks and drink warm water.

Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.
Kapalbhati -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 10 to 20 minutes twice a day. Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.

Anulom Vilom -  Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for  15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep breaths into the lungs.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 21 times

After you are better, continue the pranayam once a day, to keep the Tn away.

[painterchic]

Oh wow, you just described the TN perfectly. I am so sorry that you are going through this, I can't imagine how impossible it must feel with a little one at home. I have 3 also, but they are older, but just being out of school for the summer is making it harder. I feel so badly for you. Tegretol is supposed to be the wonder drug, I hope it starts working for you soon. But if not, it may not be the one for YOU. Try another. And try another pain reliever, it's all trial and error. Have you tried hot or cold packs? Everyone has different preferences. I could NOT get through the worst attacks without my beanbag I put in the microwave. Try to find your triggers and avoid them, but sometimes that is just plain impossible.  Sleeping IS my only break, but hey, who can live in a coma? NOT people with 3 kids, and who wants to miss life because of this anyway really? Good luck at the neurologist. If you don't get the help you need, try a new one, or better yet, a neurosurgeon. Have you had an MRI?
Keep a pain journal to better explain to the doctors because you will not remember and in between attacks it won't seem as bad as it was. Believe me, I am SO glad I kept notes. I shocked myself reading them back. It's a great way to evaluate your meds and triggers.
Good luck today, hope you feel better soon and keep us posted.
J