This past March, I felt a pain in my mouth area (right side) that I had never felt before. I thought it was a VERY nasty toothache - but after a mouthful of x-rays and an examination from my dentist, no toothache was determined or found. In fact, my teeth were perfect! (WHAT A RELIEF....BUT WHAT WAS THE PAIN!?) After describing to my dentist that the pain occurred episodically and that when it happened, my face was paralyzed/drooping, he started to think that it is Bells Palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis according to Wikipedia). But the drooping only occurred when I felt the pain and the pain only occurred once every 5 minutes. I was told to take an Ibuprofen and the pain should go away....it didn't.
The next day (24 hours into excrutiating, mind-numbing pain), I was at my family doctor and told her aide about it and told her what I was experiencing. At this point in time, I was able to make the pain occur by rubbing my lips together (as if I had just put on chap stick). So in order for her to see what I was talking about, I set myself into pain. She immediately diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. From The Mayo Clinic, "Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain." It. Was. Terrible. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enem
y.So how can we fix it? I was immediately put on a prescription (Tegretol)which helped at first but then I became immune to it. So I was put on another prescription (Nuerontin) but I became immune to that after a few days. I went through an MRI and a CT scan - the MRI showed a "mass" on the left side of my face which ended up being a deviated septum shoving my nose tissue to one side. But to make sure that it wasn't a mass, the CT scan was ordered. The only thing I learned from that was that if I ever wanted a nose job performed, there is a medical reason to do so. But the nose job wouldn't help the pain or solve my problem!
I finally was referred to a neurologist. I was put on a third prescription (Lyrica) and finally I had had enough. I was tired of living my life on a pill dosage basis. The pills made me so tired and I was lethargic. I couldn't function normally. I thankfully could get through work but I was always exhausted. My life was completely about this neurological disorder and I hated it. FYI, Trigeminal Neuralgia is described as the most excrutiating pain a human can experience and is also called "The Suicide Disease" because people often want to kill themselves because it hurt so badly. I wasn't at that point but I became depressed.
I decided to take action. I stopped with the medicines. Now at this point, people are probably freaking out because I do not have a degree in medicine but I know my body. I know what I can handle and what I can't. The pills weren't working and I couldn't do it anymore. The mind games (pills work one day and not the next) were messing with me. I stopped with the pills and three days later the pain went away. I have been pain-free for 2+ months and I am back to my normal self. I don't need pills to determine how I live my life or handle my disease. I had the power of prayer and positive thinking to guide me. I also had a great core group of friends that were always around and a mother that was my second doctor who was there with me every step of the way (even if she lives in FL). I am lucky to have the best family in the world and wouldn't change it for anything!!! (That's another post, tho!)
I never want to go through it again...but apparently it might happen again my lifetime according to statistics. This time around though, I know how to handle it! But today I can say with a beaming smile.....I survived trigeminal neuralgia : -)
