Sandra, Pregnant TN Patient

Her Personal Story

I am a 29 year old Trigeminal Neuralgia Patient. I started suffering with TN pain when I was 17 years old. Like most TN patients it took a while for me to be properly diagnosed, but as soon as I was diagnosed with TN I was put on Tegretol. Initially, it seemed to help with the pain and I often went into remission, but as time went on it helped less and less. I was then put on Neurontin, which took me through the same course. Once the Neurontin stopped working and the pain continued to increase, I looked for an alternative.

When I was 24 I decided have a Microvascular Decompression Surgery. The surgery seemed to be a success. The doctor found an artery restricting the nerve and padded it with a piece of Teflon. The pain was gone and I was happier than ever. In May 2005 at the age of 28 the pain came back. This time I was put on Cymbalta. Cymbalta, much like the other medicines that I had previously taken, helped and I was frequently going into remission and had months at a time with no pain. Although I was supposed to be on the medicine consistently, when I found myself pain-free for a couple of months I tended to stop taking the medicine.

In April of 2006 I found out that my husband and I were expecting our first child. We were both so excited and happy...then the pain came back. I was determined to get through the pregnancy free of medicine as the effects of the types of medicine used to treat TN are not very well studied in pregnant women. I saw my neurologist and he recommended that I start taking Neurontin as it was the safest of the medical options available to me at that time, but he could not predict what, if any, effect it would have on the baby. He told me that although there have been people who have been pregnant and taken the drugs who have had healthy babies, there were also people who had babies with defects or problems. The fact that the study of these medicines came after the damage was already done wasn't very comforting and that was a risk that I was not willing to take so I started looking for alternatives.

I researched the internet, read books, tried heating pads, topical creams, but the pain just kept getting worse. I then received a response from my local TNA Support Group in which they listed a handful of alternative options (acupuncture, upper cervical chiropractic care, nutrition, stress management, reflexology). The pain had gotten so bad I cried most of the day by this point. Eating was impossible and the thought of a long term care plan wasn't an option...I needed help and fast.

In June, I decided to go to a local Chiropractor who specialized in Upper Cervical Care. On my first visit he performed an evaluation which consisted of a bunch of tests. Normally X-Rays are done, but because I was pregnant they were not an option. The tests (peripheral vision test on a computer screen, weighing me on two scales at the same time, body balance, pictures taken with dots on shoulders and hips, measured length of legs) seemed unusual to me and I have to admit I was skeptical, but this was one of my only hopes. On my next visit he gave me the results as well as my first adjustment. After he adjusted me, he had me lay down for a little while and the pain was almost immediately reduced. My skepticism was starting to go away and I felt hope for the first time in weeks.

Today I am happy to say that I have been pain free for a little over a month without ever taking medicine and am a true believer in Upper Cervical Care for the treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia. Initially I saw the Dr. three times a week and then two. Now I see him once every two weeks. I am so grateful that this helped eliminate my pain and would suggest others to try it.

Posted 8-17-06