K.C., Patient

Her Personal Story

I want to thank-you for all the help and support I have received from this site over the years. 9 years ago I was diagnosed with TN, although I had the condition for 14 years. Last week I had an MVD done and am now free from the pain of TN!!!! I have numbness in my tongue, lips, cheek, forehead, and ear, BUT am able to walk outside in a breeze and smile with both sides of my mouth. Although it has only been 5 days, the numbness is already beginning to dissipate. Recovering from the anesthesia was horrible, but this is only temporary. Due to how severe the pain had become I had been on narcotics for several years. These will now be cut down, and completely out of my life, too. I feel at 43 that I have an entirely new life!!!!

More........

It has been 6 weeks now since my surgery and I am not only pain-free but am already getting feeling back where I had numbness after the surgery. My Primary Care Physician and my neurosurgeon both told me it would take about 3 months for the nerve to show signs of regeneration - which is the return of feeling in certain areas. It has already begun! My PCP is an osteopath - who uses western medicine, supplements, eastern medicines, diet, ... anything that is available (with prescribed meds being the last resort) and had prescribed a regimen of Mega multi-minerals with additional zinc, magnesium, and calcium Lysine (up to certain mgs.), as therapy 2 months prior to the surgery. He prescribed this after a very thorough reading of my blood and urine. He also told me to drink lots of fluid (2x as much as the RDA) and lots of fruit, vegetables, and fiber. I have also been walking and gardening- which always adds to overall well-being.

 Soooo all this is to say that I am doing exceptionally well - even with weaning off the narcotics. I eliminated Oxycotin and Dilaudid within the first 2 weeks, along with the meds the neurosurgeon deleted. The Lortab is the only one I have had to take my time with. I took it for 9 years off and on, and 5 years regularly!!! As soon as I am off the Lortab I will be taking only one medication, down from 12!!!! The MVD has given me my life back (as my husband says). Thanks again for all the support I have received over the years.

Sincerely,

K. C.

Updated 10-24-05