Neuralgia

[MamIDdau]

Does anyone here suffer from this?

My Dr reckons that the bad headaches I've been getting are Trigeminal Neuralgia.

I get really sharp, stabbing headaches in the right hand side of my head and then, the right hand side of my face usually goes numb.

Neither Paracetamol or Ibuprofen do anything for it (even when taken together), and reading up on it makes for quite depressing reading.

Even though I've told the Dr and that's what he believes it is, he hasn't given me anything for it, nor referred me for tests etc.

I've spent enough time there this last week though

[Spruance]

You could always try the herbalist option AL. i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/wink.gif

Feverfew is said to be effective for persistent headaches, and indeed my mum was advised to take it by her GP some years ago. It was either that or buy a punch bag! ;D

Holland & Barrett have Feverfew in capsule or tablet form...

www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=196&prodid=388

Failing that any good health food shop should have it if you want to give it a try.

[Jasmine]

Or homeopathy AL?
My Mum had bad migraines which were sorted out using homeopathic remedies.

[beanie]

This site suggests a drug thay may help.
www.patient.co.uk/health/Trigeminal-Neuralgia.htm

[MamIDdau]

Went back to the Dr (in tears) earlier and he gave me Amitriptyline. Looking that up, it's an anti depressant... also used to treat other stuff.

Wonderful!

Got to take this for a little while now and see if it eases off. Apparently it should sort itself out but this has been going on for nearly a week now and I've had enough

[Jasmine]

Well, I hope that works for you AL - it must be miserable

[Tig]

Glad you got something else to try Aprilaydee, at least you shouldn't get depressed waiting for it to kick in ;D

It is used in lower dosages for facial neuralgia - watch out that you don't get the munchies though! Found this for you

facial-neuralgia.org/treatments/drugs/amitriptyline.html

x Tig

[MamIDdau]

Thanks

[Juliet]

I have neuralgia, April, but mine is only occasional and I survive with paracetamol. It goes up the side of the face, mainly around the cheekbone - I thought it was toothache when it first started. I get occasional jabs of neuralgia in other places too.

Here's a link to more info & support: www.tna.org.uk/pages/condition.html

Amitriptyline is used as a sleeping tablet in very low doses too - I had it for a while to help me sleep when neighbours were being particularly noisy. It certainly made me sleep - unfortunately it turned me into a zombie during the day too! - but I know other people who take it and find it very helpful. I hope it works for you.

[MamIDdau]

I'm off the Amitryptiline now and onto this en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbamazepine

This turned me into a zombie yesterday afternoon. I then took one pill a few hours before bed time and another when I was rudely awaken at 5:45am this morning by the OH asking if I'd left the dryer on... (it was a noisy lorry outside that shouldn't have been there at that time!)

I've been referred to a neurologist now but that'll take months and I'll hopefully be better by then.

The Dr actually said he doesn't think it is TN as it's not common in women under the age of 50. I think I've got something wrong with a blood vessel and it's pressing on the nerve. Why the blood vessel is suddenly doing that, I don't know.

[MamIDdau]

I've got to laugh... that's the first time I've read anything about this new medication and I read thru the side effects.

"Adverse effects

Common adverse effects include drowsiness, headaches and migraines, motor coordination impairment and/or upset stomach. Carbamazepine preparations typically greatly decrease a person's alcohol tolerance."

Drowsiness, headache and slight co ordination problems have already been noticed. I'm not drinking anyway so that doesn't matter but the next bit says...

"There are also reports of an auditory side effect for carbamazepine use, whereby patients perceive sounds about a semitone lower than previously. Thus, middle C would be heard as the note B3 just below it, etc"

I actually said to my OH earlier this afternoon that I thought my media player on my laptop was playing up and said "It's as if it's transposed the songs into a lower key". How weird?!

I do have a very good ear for tone though... even with the tinnitus the Amitryptiline has given me!

[Ladygardener]

I do hope it works for you April and that the side effects are minimal for you.