John Porter, Patient and N. San Francisco Bay TNA Support Group Leader

His Personal Story

I developed TN in 1998 (mandibular branch - lower right lip). Fortunately, I was accurately diagnosed pretty quickly by a oral pain specialist on the UCSF dental school faculty and referred to my neurologist (already under his care and taking Dilantin which was, and is, well controlling a seizure disorder). Continued under his care trying various meds (Neurontin, Lamictal) and alternative treatment (acupuncture) for 3+ years w/o any relief & the TN slowly worsening; I never had a pain free day or remission longer than a couple of hours. Never tried Tegretol because I'd already tried it in the 80's to control the seizures, but didn't tolerate it well.

During this time my neurologist strongly advised me against looking into surgical alternatives (told me that he'd never had a TN patient who'd had a good surgical experience, and some ended up in worse shape). By the spring of 2002 things were getting pretty bad. I got in touch w/ Dr. Barbaro and made an appointment. A month after he saw me he did my MVD (July, 2002). I've been completely pain free since.

Updated 3-1-05