I am posting for my wife. She is 38 and has been diagnosed with TN 2 years ago. She has been on Tegretol for 2 years. Her pain has subsided so the Tegretol definitely did what it was prescribed for at the time. About 6 months ago, she started having severe OCD and depression. She has never had conditions like this previously. She has been prescribed a few different drugs for the OCD and the depression. None of these have worked. It has been so bad that her doctors have had her taking ect treatments... these are old school electro shock treatments. Her doctor said this was going to change things and give her a new start. After 7 or 8 treatments, nothing has changed except for loss of short term memory and horrible depression on days she has treatment. I finally started doing some research online into Tegretol and I have seen some examples that are somewhat similar to her experience. The Tegretol is the one drug that has remained prescribed through all of this awful experience. Has anyone here had similar experiences and changed meds for TN to somethjng other than Tegretol and had any success? My wife is desperate for relief and is even considering brain surgery for relief. I promised my baby I would find some help... can anyone please help? I can't stand seeing her like this... any help will be greatly appreciated...
Hi There, I'm so sorry that you have to both go through this together and I know it can be just as bad for a husband or wife of the sufferer as it is for the one with T.N. I have found that Tegretol has actually helped my depression although I know that having T.N is a most depressing condition in itself and can cause depression. I have had various treatments for my T.N over 20 years plus so do not give up and continue your research and explore every avenue. I have times of intense T.N but still have periods of remission. after fourth procedure of Thermocoaculation carried out by my neurologist. Don't rule out the brain surgery. I actually wish I had had this years ago when I was much younger and healthier. It's considered the most effective treatment and often cures the condition.. At 74, I am considered too much of a risk because of my general health, but your wife is much younger and needs her life back. I wish you both every success and will pray for you as I do for every sufferer of this awful condition.
I would get a MRI to confirm that the trigeminal nerve is being compressed. If that turns out to be the case, then find a specialist in the surgery to correct trigeminal neuralgia ,Which is called microvascular decompression, I have not had to take tergretol much as this surgery completely cured my TN. Mallory
Hi Givens,
Please consider visiting a licensed acupuncture doctor/clinic around your area. It worked for me. I had TN for 3 years. It may take more than 10 sessions but worth it.
All the best,
Mark
Published article on "Successful Treatment of a Resistance Trigeminal Neuralgia Patient By Acupuncture":
I imagine the Tegretol is prescribed because it tends to have the highest efficacy rate of all the meds for this awful disease. When I was taking it, I most definitely experienced depression, depression that was in ADDITION to the situational depression from the TN itself.
I normally would not give any credence to so called alternative medicine, but there have been many studies done on Acupuncture and on a limited basis, evidence shows that it can and often does provide relief so I would take the recommendation mentioned prior and look into it. Make sure they are licensed and have been doing it for a while.
Hi Mallory.. I was recently diagnosed with TN and have already tried 2 different medications for TN and have seen no results so I have been researching TN Surgical options and came across Microvascular Decompression surgery and was actually leaning toward that procedure due to the estimated amount of time I would have pain relief. I am only 22 years old and don't want to take medication the rest of my life just to not feel pain and now reading here, seems like pain doesn't always go away with medication. I am hoping to get your input on this procedure and tell me how your recovery process went. I am desperate to feel better. I've been dealing with this constant pain for 2 months straight and just want to be out of this pain. thank you in advance