My pain comes and goes. Unfortunately none of us ever know when the next ugly attach will come or how long it will last. Every morning I wake up and lick my lips. If I can do this without pain it usually means it is under control. Right now I am decreasing meds, as I am running short. Wish me luck.

i do hope pain lessens and will return to being dormant.
I lost my brother,my son and a nephew all within 3 mos of each other, the latter 2 were within 2 days. On the way home from the last funeral I had my first attack of TN, of course I thought it was a bad tooth, was so grateful when my dentist diagnosed the TN and it was confirmed by neurologist. So YES... stress is definitely a factor. It has been 4 years since it all began and here I am, on 2400 mg of Neurontin a day, but for now it is holding the pain. I am looking for other alternatives, now seeing my chiropractor who is beginning some upper cervical txs. I am a nurse and do realize I cannot continue on all that medication for rest of my life, so looking for something else, need to make it a smart and informed decision.
I wish you luck and must add that every doctor I have seen put stress as no. 1 cause... I have seen what stress does with cancer patients...luck, will keep you in my prayers, hospice nurses love butterflies.

I'm so sorry for your losses. No one should have to face the loss of 3 loved ones within such a short space of time.
Thanks for affirming for me that stress is indeed a factor in TN. I don't know why the neurogist would deny that.
I was very lucky in that my first attacks stopped spontaneously and the second bout lasting about 3 months was more or less controlled by only 400 mg of carbamazapine. I still have a few tablets and if I need more I will go to my family doctor this time. Actually she was the one who prescribed it as it took ages to get an appointment with the neurologist and I couldn't function with the pain. Now that I'm caregiving 24/7 there is no way I could deal with full blown TN so I hope it goes away quietly.
You are on a high dose of meds and I hope you find some other means to deal with the pain.

Hi There, I am so sorry to hear about the pain you are both in....my brother passed away over two years ago. For the last five years my mother was under a lot of stress. In Nov 2010 my mother had her first attack with TN. Medications and nerve blocks were making her very sick. Surgery is not an option. I researched and found a clinic in Myrtle Beach which has had success treating TN patients since 2006. My mother and I travelled from Toronto to Myrtle Beach within two days to start treatment. She has been home since December 20th and today she is pain free and on no medications. The clinic has a website if you are intrested www.lasermedcenter.com the staff is very nice and they will answer any questions you may have. It's worth a call, we took a leap of faith and it worked out. We are so blessed to have my mother pain free. The clinic will tell you that once you are treated you will not have to see them again. Most patients have been pain free for years. You can view my mothers testimony as well as others who are now pain free on their facebook page @ http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Laser-Med-Center/119990178056852

Take care and god bless
Daniela

I'm so happy to hear of your success! I pray that she remains pain free. Unfortunately, that was not an option when Randy had surgery. If his comes back, we will explore that option.
Thanks for the info, always good to have options.
T

I also think stress has alot to do with it. My son is in his first year of tech school and I made myself sick over worrying about his grades etc....he has been special ed since about second grade and also lost his daddy at that time so life has been a little tough on him. His counselor at school told another coworker "he's never gonna make it at college". Well......he finished his first semester with a 3.09! All that worrying for nothing. My point is that I've worried myself sick and now my TN is full blown. Of course it is colder than normal here now and I think the cold is worse on me too.

I am also on neurontin as a maintenance med. When I notice the "breakthrough" symptoms coming through, we raise my dosage to try to prevent a flare up.
My neurologist believes stress can be a contributor in a flare of tn.
Are you on any maintenance meds?

No, I'm no longer on maintenance meds but have a prescription on hand if I should need it. So far so good in that I only get the occasional shock in my tongue. Last time it progressed so much faster so maybe it will just stay like this. I can always hope.
I certainly would not be able to cope with my present situation if I were in pain. I'm finding things hard enough and have to stay healthy to take care of my husband.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Have you had MVD surgery are any other procedure for TN are do you just take medication for your pain? Yes! Stress does have a lot to do with TN pain , I am fully convinced of it. My Neurosurgeon also said stress would not help in the healing process after MVD surgery has he told me after surgery to try and stay stress free as much as I could for at least a year.
yardlover

I have had TN fro 5 yrs, 1st bout when my mother passed away, have had some minor exacerbations between then and I take tegretol and it usually goes away in a day or to HOWEVER this time the pain is almost unbearable........My doctor has increase my dosage of tegreto and added lyrica....I do not like the way is makes me feel and I am SO sleeply. I work as a ICU nurse and I am currently working towards my Masters Degree. I have to be alert ! Does anyone have any suggestions??? The pain is terrible I am on Tegretol 600mg and Lyrica 100mg daily and still having pain and sleepy. Will I ever be able to fucion again?????

My husband Tn came back in Sept tegretol was given to slow and by Dec he is in crisis end up in Er stay in hospital changed his tegretol to tegretol XR it time release for 3 days And 3 days later he was having the lighten bolt pain only a shot will lessen not stop. Its so hard to watch him in that shape. he stayed hospital 1 week this time. He was sent home with 1200 tegretol xr Dr says will take 6 weeks or more to level out but he now has cluster headaches just about every night. By the time the pain med work the pain has pased about 1hr,,,,Sugar might be a factor I am trying to watch that. And since cluster come same time a day which is weird they came at supper time so he wasn't eating so I change our big meal to 1:30 and just eat a light meal at night...That helps some at least he is eating now...We have app Friday to a neursurgeon but have bad weather coming in so that may not even happen as we live 2hrs away from the city...He has tried every drug Tegretol XR and only brand name works.. The genric never would get him to the place of no pain. Of ocurse it cost more and still fightening with insurance to pay but have to have it...