Posted by Joy (207.1.45.43) on February 22, 2001 at 09:13:17:
In Reply to: Question posted by Bennie Sue on February 22, 2001 at 08:38:08:
My mom had TN for several years before having surgery to block the nerve. TN pain level is similar to cluster pain, usually located in the cheek/eye region, consisting of short "jabs" of intense pain. The pain is of shorter duration usually and is often set off by a cold breeze, eating, talking, etc. and sometimes by nothing at all. The pain is excrutiating--like cluster headache sufferers, some people do commit suicide because of the pain. Remissions are similar to CH, but after awhile, my mom became chronic and continued to get worse--meds like tegretol and dilantin lost their effectiveness. Surgery has been successful, thanks to a great surgeon. No return of pain after 11+ years! Just thought I'd post some first-hand info.