Posted by Bob P (129.65.46.87) on June 06, 2001 at 10:09:45:
In Reply to: Microvascular Decompression Surgery posted by Nina B. on June 06, 2001 at 09:35:48:
I did a serch for this surgery and everything I found referred to TN, not CH. Are you sure you had clusters?
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Microvascular Decompression Surgery Cure
This article submitted by Jeanne Peschel on 4/8/98.
Email Address: kitty@glasscity.net
Hi, I am a 34 year old woman who was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN)
several years ago. I first had stabbing pains on the right side of my face and
didn't know what was the cause. I saw my doctor and she thought it was
just a sinus infection and gave me antibiotics. Then, I had sinus x-rays, which
came back normal. Next, I saw my dentist - thinking perhaps it was a bad
tooth. He did xrays and several tests and said that my teeth were fine. Next,
I saw an ENT doctor who thought that it could be TN, but it was rare for
someone my age to have it. They put me on tegretol, but it really didn't help
my pain much. Then I was sent to a neurologist who diagnosed it as TN and
added dilantin to the tegretol. The pain was very severe and I had pain when
I talked, ate, washed my face, I couldn't sleep on that side, kiss my husband...
and it really affected my quality of living, plus the tegretol didn't help. I finally
saw a neurosurgeon - Dr. Jeffrey A. Brown at the Medical College of Ohio.
He specializes in TN and does many surgeries for it. He recognized it as TN
immediately and told me my options. He ordered an MRI and it revealed that I
had 2 blood vessels sitting on the nerve, causing the pain.
Eventually, I decided to have the
microvascular decompression surgery, since it had a good success rate and
wouldn't make that side of my face numb. I have to admit to being scared and
it was a 5 hour surgery, but I had no TN pain after the surgery and have been
pain-free for two years now. I know the pain could always return and there
are no 100 percent guarantees, but it worked for me and I feel good now. If
anyone needs someone to talk to about this surgery or TN in general, feel free
to e-mail me if you wish. Also, Dr. Brown discusses TN on the Medical College
of Ohio website and you can e-mail him for information.
Take care, Jeanne
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Here is a list of responses that have been posted regarding this article...
After Surgery (5/27/98) 3:12 PM
facing surgery (5/20/98) 7:51 AM
MRI Okay (5/18/98) 3:25 PM
Sorry to hear Misty... (5/13/98) 2:59 AM
Pain has returned (5/11/98) 3:51 PM
Mitzi (5/9/98) 9:05 PM
My surgery (5/6/98) 3:07 PM
To Morene, both sides also . . . (4/30/98) 11:34 AM
Morene (4/28/98) 11:50 PM
Misty (4/28/98) 11:48 PM
Microvascular Decompression Surg (4/28/98) 4:20 PM
Microvascular Decompression Surg (4/16/98) 11:42 PM
Microvascular Decompression Surg (4/16/98) 11:41 PM
Some comforting news.. (4/12/98) 10:13 AM
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