Posted by Barbara D. on April 07, 1999 at 00:12:07:
In Reply to: Kill the nerve!!! posted by Todd on April 06, 1999 at 19:05:15:
Todd,
It's called a Stereotactic Radiofrequency Trigeminal Rhizotomy and what they do is go in with a needle and microwave the trigeminal nerve.
IT IS A LAST RESORT. I think one of the things is you must be chronic for a long period of time and NO meds work. Can't be on narcs (that lowers the success rate). The odds are about 80/20 that it will work and it can cause side effects (blindness for one). The side of the face that has the nerve killed will be numb forever right down the middle (even half your tongue).
That's the bad part. I had it done in Feb. after all other options ran out. I'm still drinking through a straw and having trouble eating. (Sometimes it's hard to tell where the food is.) It's a big adjustment. My optic motor nerve was heated and I have double vision which should reverse itself eventually, but right now I'm wearing an eyepatch.
All in all, I'm glad I did it and don't miss the headaches at all, but I had been chronic for over two years without letup (2-5 HAs per day).
Talk to your neuro and if you think this might be what you need, e-mail me and I'll send you the phone number of the doc who did mine (don't let just anyone do it!) It is specialized.
Hugs BD