Too Much Pain

Things have not been great lately. The pain from the now bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia is completely off the charts. It is so draining and soul destroying. 

As I said in a previous post, I am now off Tegretol, but I was put on Topamax. So now I take a delightful cocktail of Gabapentin, Baclofen, Amitriptyline, Veneflaxine, Topamax and Nepramel. I am on fairly high doses of all the medications which makes functioning like a "normal" person difficult. 

Lately, the pain has taken on a new intensity. I do believe that the cold weather is a major factor. It feels like thousands of tiny red hot knives stabbing me, over and over again. The shocks are also increasing and they literally take my breath away. As well as the Trigeminal Neuralgia pain, I have Migraines also. When these two conditions appear at the same time, it leaves me unable to get out of bed. For the past 5-6 weeks I have had a lot of joint pain. It feels like my joints are on fire, and cramping at the same time. I get frequent pins and needles in my arms, hands, legs and feet. I don't sleep, the pain is just too much. My doctor has a theory, but I want to wait and see if he is right or wrong. 

I am overcome with a lot of guilt. There are days that I am useless, I can hardly take care of myself. I hate being stuck in bed unable to move, I hate having to depend on my family to do things for me, I am 31 years old, not 91! I can't shake the feeling of hopelessness and overwhelming guilt. I feel like I am a burden, a leech, with nothing to add to society. Is this a common feeling among those with a Chronic Pain condition? I try so hard to make something of my life, to do something small each and every day, but light housework such as hoovering and washing dishes is a form of torture. 

Logically I know that it's not my fault, I know that I have limitations, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. I want to be able to spend quality time with my family. I want to go and have a small social life, even if it's meeting a friend for a coffee. I want to go back to work, to start contributing to society once again. 

If I am in so much pain now, and I mean that this pain is becoming too hard to cope with, what will the pain be like in the future? Will I be completely confined to my bed in 12 months? Will my doctors confirm that I have another condition to add to my impressive arsenal? Will I ever get back to work? Will I have a family of my own someday> 

So many questions, and they are impossible to answer. I just want my life back. I don't want another diagnosis, even though I believe that my GP is right about it unfortunately. 

I have to work on my feelings of inadequacy and guilt. Logically I know it's foolish, but I get a pain in my stomach when I look around me and realise just how useless I have become. Nobody has called me a burden, nobody has complained that I can't do much to help out anymore. It doesn't change the way I feel, and I wonder are there many of us out there/? Who else feels this way? How do i overcome it? 

Trigeminal Neuralgia Support

Trigeminal Neuralgia is an absolute nightmare. It has invaded every single part of my life, and it continuing to chip away at my soul. 

I am in pain constantly, 24/7 without a break. I never get a full night sleep, and it's even taking control of my dreams. I can't remember what life was like before TN hit. It's a long distant memory, and rather than it being my own recollection, it's like I have read a book about someone else. 

I am not the only one. 

That thought is frightening and comforting at the same time. I hate the thoughts of another person having to deal with this condition, but knowing that I am not alone helps. It's a paradox. 

There are some fabulous support groups out there. The people in them know exactly how I feel, they feel it too. Some people have suffered longer and they are in more pain than I am, and for my sake and theirs, there needs to be a cure. Sometimes surgeries can help, but that option is not available to every TN sufferer. Sometimes these surgeries make matters worse. 

The International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day is approaching quickly (Oct 7th) and we need to get the word out. Awareness not only helps regarding a cure, but it will help people understand. 

Anyone living with a so called "invisible illness" has the same story to tell. People find it hard to understand and there are even people that don't believe us.

I am a firm believer that if someone doesn't add anything to your life, but leeches every bit of joy and happiness from it, these people need to be cut off. Cut them off at the roots. Life is too damn hard with such people in it. It doesn't matter if these people have been your friend since childhood, cut them off. 

If you have Trigeminal Neuralgia, Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia, any other facial pain condition there are amazing caring people out there that always have a kind word, a reassuring presence and some good advice when things are hard. I have reached out, and I consider myself lucky because my family are a great support. 

Don't suffer alone, and don't suffer in silence. If the pain gets too much, go to the closest A&E/ER Department, but go with a thick skin. Many of the doctors and nurses haven't got a clue what TN is, so take some time to explain it to them if you can. I have a sheet of paper in my purse that explains briefly what Trigeminal Neuralgia is, what medications I am on, my GP, my Neurologist, and my next of kin. Do not let them label TN as a "headache," it happened to me before and it has happened to many others.

Another thing needs to be said. Only take the medication that is prescribed.  Don't take more than the stated dose, and don't take anyone else's pills. If the meds mess with your memory, a notebook is handy to keep close, even post-it notes are worth a shot. The TN community have lost a few people to accidental overdoses over the past couple of months, and it's a trend that needs to STOP.

Despite the pain, there is always hope. How far has society come in the past five years alone??There is more technology in your smartphone than in the Apollo 11 spacecraft that landed on the moon.. so there is hope for a cure. We need to speak out, inform people and educate those around us about facial pain. 

Contact me if you want some information about support groups, I will be happy to help. 

Does Sunshine Bring Hope?

What a difference the weather makes! Although I am weak and slightly cranky, I really enjoyed the fantastic Summer weather that we had today.

There wasn't a single breeze! This meant that I could actually go outside without a scarf. It was an amazing feeling. I have never been one for the hot weather, I burn like a crisp in 5 minutes (no joke) but if I had weather like this to enjoy for a couple of weeks, it would make this hellish pain seem bearable. The pain won't go, but it makes life worth living. 

Instead of my constant whining and giving out, this is a post about enjoying the simple things!! When dealing with Trigeminal Neuralgia or any chronic pain condition, we need to focus on the positives. I had a good day today. My pain is still averaging on a 9, which when it's out of 10 is bad. Today, I managed to keep most of my triggers away, and now I feel hopeful. Maybe, just maybe I will get through this bullshit condition with my sanity intact.

 There is one thing that I have realised since my diagnosis, priorities change dramatically. The things that were once important now takes a back seat. So I am hoping with all my might that we may have a few more days of this glorious weather!!

Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness

Today was a shitty day. I don't apologise for the language as this is my blog, and I need to vent. 

This pain is not getting any easier to deal with. How much pain can the body and mind endure? I have reached my limit and I am hoping every day that either my medications will start to work, or this pain would dull for a while.

If you are wondering in disbelief about the pain I describe, let me paint you a picture. 

Imagine that your face is being burned by acid. How painful would that be? Now imagine that pain ALL the time. Not pretty.

Not only does my face burn constantly, but I am getting hundreds of electric like jolts of pain every day. Imagine being struck by lightening over and over again. Not nice. 

Along with the horrific burning and shocks, I constantly feel like I am being stabbed in the ear with an icepick. 

Now I am not writing this for pity or any such crap. I am pissed off. I have went through almost a year of this, and just when I have reached my pain threshold, it gets worse. 

I also don't believe that Trigeminal Neuralgia is as rare as the documentation wants us to believe. I know that there are people out there that have been misdiagnosed. I was in A&E and there were nurses and a few doctors that never heard of Trigeminal Neuralgia. If my medical file wasn't available and if I hadn't insisted that my consultant was informed, I would have been sent home with a couple of paracetamol and told to rest. 

That is just plain wrong. I have read countless accounts of people being treated in that way, and this crap goes on for years! I know that I am lucky to have a diagnosis so quickly and I have had a serious amount of tests and scans that aren't widely available. 

If you are reading this and you feel that you are not being diagnosed properly, speak out. Nobody knows your body better than you. These doctors are being paid to look after you! It is their job. I know that doctors and consultants can be quite intimidating, but they are being paid a lot of dough to fix us. 

We really and truly need more awareness. The blank looks that you get when you say the words Trigeminal Neuralgia will wear you down. I even had some dumbass say to me that that Trigeminal Neuralgia is a fancy name for a headache. I wanted to rip her throat out, and that is me being nice. 

Now I am not normally an angry person, I am quite calm although I have one hell of a temper. 

We are approaching the International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day on October 7th. Our teal ribbon is available to download on every search engine and it should be shared around all social media sites. Awareness will lead to understanding, funding, and eventually a cure. 

Trigeminal Neuralgia and other forms of facial pain are life altering conditions. How to deal with these conditions on a daily basis is a challenge and one we must win. 

Hospital Hysterics

Unfortunately this Trigeminal Neuralgia is kicking my ass. I had to go back to Beaumont Hospital on Monday night. The pain was unbearable and I briefly lost the vision in my left eye(my TN side)
The pain is still intolerable. The A&E Department is a complete joke. Every trolley us in use, and there are patients lined up in CHAIRS after they are admitted. I spent an ass numbing 28 hours in a chair. Finally at 2 am this morning I got a bed.

I overheard nurses discussing my case and they described it as 'migranes'. I got very angry and lost it. They didnt know what TN is! Hard to believe. However I do recognise that they are doing their best in impossible and often third world conditions.

Our Minister for Health should hang his head in shame. He needs to go. Nobody deserves to be left in a chair for days or even on trollies. There is no privacy, and no dignity. It felt like I was a freak on show. There were people there that were a lot worse than me. Although the nurses try to maintain someones dignity it is often impossible.

I had a MRI yesterday and I have to get another one today. The pain is hitting my pain threshold and I feel that I am loosing grasp on my sanity. Meds aren't working, there is no relief.

Get Stuffed

I have a horrible head cold. It's setting off the trigeminal neuralgia constantly, and it sucks because I never need a reason for my face to explode in pain.

Up until now, I haven't had so much as a  stuffed nose since being diagnosed with TN, which is odd. My mission in life lately is to keep as warm as possible, staying away from wind, breezes and draughts, maybe that is why I haven't been sick all winter.

Having TN is bad enough, but when you add crazy headaches, a sore throat and a stuffed nose into the mix, then it becomes a certain brand of hell. The stuffed nose is driving me crazy, every time I take a breath my face ignites and I can't do anything about it.

Is this what my life is going to be like? I am already afraid of going outside, but now I have to fear the common cold too. As everyone knows there is no cure for the common cold, so I am hoping that if I stay warm, take some cold and flu tablets and drink herbal tea this damn cold will go.

I fell like my freedom is in question. Trigeminal Neuralgia has taken so much away from me already, I don't want to loose anything else. I am afraid of being out in the wind, but with the aid of a scarf it can be done. Now, because of this cold, should I stay inside like a pathetic hermit, or should I get on with life and take every problem as it comes? The pain hits me like bolts of lightening when I am indoors, it happens every few minutes regardless. I may as well live my life.

Having a cold with TN is not fun. The common cold never bothered me before, I would have taken some paracetamol and gotten on with things. Now, it's not so simple. Trigeminal Neuralgia really is pain from hell.

Understanding

What would we do without a support system? I know that I would be completely lost, and without hope. I have a terrific family who really look after me.


I have been active in many support groups online and there is one thing that caught my attention. Trigeminal Neuralgia warriors are finding it so difficult to describe the pain to family and friends, and they feel bereft and slightly betrayed.  


Invisible pain, whether it's TN or any other beastly condition, is impossible to describe accurately. As I have stated before, when you see someone with a visible wound, eg a broken leg, it is so easy to empathise with them. When our pain is internal, nobody can possibly understand.


Fellow TN warriors, think back to the wonderful time that you were pain free. Now imagine that your best friend told you they were in chronic and relentless pain. Would you fully understand? I believe that unless you suffer from pain, you cannot appreciate how life changing it can be.


If you also find that family and friends tend to lose their patience, cut them a bit of slack. They love and care about you, they do understand on some level. Part of your loved ones frustration is helplessness. They cannot bear to see you in pain, but they are powerless to stop it.

I always believe that you should surround yourself with good people that care. One great friend is better than ten acquaintances.


So go easy on family and friends. I know for a fact that TN can change people too. I am Queen Bitch some days. I don't mean to be, but it's hard to smile, laugh and be happy when there are demons dancing under my skin.

If there is anyone out there with a story to tell about their wonderful support system, feel free to contact me. I want to compile a section where we can tell our stories to help each other.

Have a low pain day!

Top 10 Things To NOT Say To Someone With A Chronic Illness

Pain Nightmare

Do you know what? Living with Trigeminal Neuralgia is a nightmare. Every moment of my life over the past few weeks has been completely overruled by pain, and the pain levels are becoming too much to bear.

I also have a new symptom which is fucking fantastic. Yep, loosing the vision in my left eye for a few seconds at a time. It is frightening, and I am worried. My doctor insists that if it happens again I am to go STRAIGHT to Beaumont, as there are a variety of things that can also cause it.

Seriously, hospital? Not likely. Does anyone understand the state of the Irish hospitals?

Let me explain.

Sitting in A and E for roughly eight to twelve hours, then I am normally admitted (lucky me). Once admitted, routine blood tests and a variety of other tests are done, and then you are sent to sit on a chair. Yes, you heard me, A CHAIR. Let me tell you, if you have spent the night in excruciating pain, sitting in a chair, a trolley is luxurious. Oh and by the way, this is inside the A and E department, and there is NO PRIVACY either. My last time in hospital, I was in A and E for two days before being sent to a ward. Once I got to a ward, I received excellent care, and my neurology doctors were great. The nurses in the A and E department were great too, but severely understaffed.

So after my experiences I am extremely hesitant to go to the hospital, but if I really feel like something isn't right I will have to.

This is just one more thing to stress about. When you suffer from trigeminal neuralgia and chronic pain, more stress is the last thing that is needed. Stress and worry are major triggers for me, so it is a vicious circle.

I am, at this moment hoping for some pain relief. (Meds still are useless) I have read about remission and I am trying to imagine a few hours without pain. Seems like a dream.

TN Monster

Trigeminal Neuralgia is an absolute monstrous condition. The pain is refusing to abate, the burning won't cool and as for the stabbing? The pain is inhuman. It's almost like my body has been invaded by a supernatural entity and I am constantly fighting to regain control. That may sound like possession, but believe me it is what it feels like.

It is so easy to loose yourself in the pain, and I have been on the verge of that many times. Simple tasks like washing teeth, brushing hair and applying moisturiser hurts like hell and it starts off these demonic attacks. Everyone with TN knows about these triggers. There are many more, going outside can be overwhelming, especially if there is a breeze, even a light one.

Basics everyday activities can become impossible tasks if you allow them too. There are days when moping around in pj's seems like the only option, and I will honestly say that sometimes the pain gets so bad that getting out of bed can be a challenge.

We cannot let this beat us. It is the hardest possible thing to get out of bed some days, but we must try. Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition, it doesn't define us.

One way that I cope is by thinking of these attacks as an invasion I must fight. I am too stubborn to let this monster win and defeat me. I know that Trigeminal Neuralgia will never leave me, but it might go away for a while.

Every time I wear make-up, do my hair and have the courage to leave the house, I take it as a small victory, and everyone with TN should! Today is one of those days. 

TN is a monster, and it can invade our bodies, but it sure as hell can't take our souls.

Don't Lose Hope!

The past few days have been really difficult. The pain completely overwhelmed me and I was very down. I felt panic, fear and so much stress that I was afraid for my sanity. The pain attacked frightened me so much I was seriously considering hospital. (And for anyone who knows the about overcrowding in Irish hospitals, this is a last resort). I broke and cried and that made my face burn even more! It was then I knew that I needed to take some deep breaths and try and calm down. It's difficult to think clearly when Trigeminal Neuralgia has you in it's grasp, especially when I was sleep deprived.

I reached out to some terrific support groups and the darkness that had swallowed me up started to wane. I have made some fantastic friends through these support groups and even someone sending a get well message mean so much to me.

When the pain gets intolerable and life feels completely hopeless, reach out. Sometimes finding support from people that KNOW what you are going through helps. I won't mention any names, you guys know who you are and I appreciate the kind words and positive energy so much.

My family are also fantastic, they always listen and do their best to support me. I would be lost without them.

When you suffer from the monster that is Trigeminal Neuralgia, there will be dark days. It's inevitable. My pain is still very bad today, but I'm not as down in the dumps anymore. Worrying about things and stressing out is a serious flaw, and it's something I need to work on to try and prevent anymore days of panic. I don't normally need a trigger for pain, but stress and worry is one of the main ones for me.

Thank goodness I feel a little better, I am hopeful again that I will get some relief soon. My excellent doctor is making arrangements to ensure I get an appointment with a Pain Clinic and he is ordering some more scans and tests for me.

When I sat down to write this post, and I realised how many people have my back, I was astonished and thankful. If you feel alone, think about everyone in your life that are helping you in some way. There are more than you think!

Dark Day

Today is a very bad day. This pain is threatening to take me to levels of complete insanity. Nothing brings relief, it's just never ending and to date, the most pain I have ever felt.

I am trying so hard to keep the darkness from taking over, it's not easy. I am trying to stay positive and fight! This Battle with Trigeminal Neuralgia is turning into a War. It seems to be something that I cannot win.

Jolts of excruciating, incapacitating pain overwhelm me every few minutes. There is a constant burning pain and my neck is in complete spasm. I have only had this since last July, and the prospect of months and years of this Hell is not acceptable.

I am not only in pain, I am in a state of anger! These medications that we with TN are prescribed, often don't work. (Mine certainly aren't) Getting to see a Neurologist is another problem, getting the proper scans and diagnosis is also a battle. I am lucky to have seen a Neurologist, and I may have to invade the A and E Department of the hospital if this pain doesn't relent. I know the pain won't go, but a little reprieve would be an amazing relief.

If I am being honest, I am really getting scared. The way the pain levels are increasing is both hard to handle and freaking me out. Anyone with chronic pain knows what I mean.

The hardest part? It's putting a smile on my face and trying to show the world that everything is ok. Twitching when an attack hits, often makes people stare. It's not their fault. Unless this pain is experienced it's impossible to understand or empathise with.

I hope that I can get through this new level of pain.

Sleep Demons

Will I have another night like last night? Yes, probably. When Trigeminal Neuralgia pain stops me from sleeping, I become a raging bitch. If I'm being honest, I can survive on about four to five hours sleep a night, I'm built that way. But to get NO SLEEP, things get serious.

Sleep is wonderful. It's necessary to keep your mind and body in tip top condition. It allows your body to heal and regenerate after the day's exertions. When that necessary healing power is taken away due to pain, everything seems hopeless.

Anyone with TN, knows that a bad night's sleep is not unusual, and with the cocktail of medications that most of us have to take, sleep is even more necessary. Some meds help you sleep, as in they knock you out! That isn't proper sleep though, and the next morning, I experienced "hangover" like side effects, but without the alcohol induced fun.

Lack of sleep also messes with your head. You become nervous, paranoid and I have even hallucinated. Some things do help me though. If I do an hour on the exercise bike, shower and go straight to bed, I am more inclined to sleep for a few hours. If I read a book, I will stay awake until that book is finished. (It's a flaw, I'm a book addict, so I never start a book at night.)

I have recently started Yoga, and it is truly fantastic. I was sceptical at first, because it seemed like ridiculously expensive stretching, but after watching a beginner DVD and copying some of the easy poses, I was wrecked, and amazingly relaxed. When the session ended and the very flexible lady on my TV screen advised to lie down and focus on breathing, I almost fell asleep.

I neglected my Yoga routine for the past few days and my sleep patterns are ridiculous, so I will try again, and see if it does the trick. Yoga doesn't take away my Trigeminal Neuralgia pain, but it helps me relax, focus on my breathing and it distracts me from the dancing fire ants in my face.

If you are like me and NEED a few hours sleep, try Yoga. Get a DVD, and attempt the so-called easy poses in the comfort of your own home. (I was lucky I did it at home, because I attempted a few poses and fell over, but my dog was my only audience and she doesn't judge.)

Has anyone any tips? Do you have your own sleep demons and what overcomes them?

Understanding the Pain

Cold windy weather is the ultimate enemy when you suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia

Poets and novelists love to portray the beauty of a soft gently breeze, or a crisp, fresh and frosty spring morning. Well let me tell you, as a sufferer of Trigeminal Neuralgia, those soft breezes and frosty mornings are complete and utter hell. Every time the wind touches my face, I get a severe jolt of pain that makes me want to scream aloud. Going for a walk is completely out of the question, even going outside for a few minutes, takes some preparation.

Summer is on it's way, and hopefully the warmer weather will help my symptoms.

This post is more for the families and friends of TN sufferers. Trigeminal Neuralgia is such a debilitating condition, but because our pain rarely shows on the outside, it is difficult to understand. If someone has a broken arm or a leg, they get a cast on. Their pain is visible. TN is a neurological condition. The nerves jolt and spasm inside the head and it makes simple tasks like washing teeth, applying make-up and even washing hair difficult. A soft breeze to you, feels like millions of sharp knives stabbing the left side of my face, with the occasional electric shock to keep things interestingly nasty.

Just because someone's pain is seemingly invisible, does not make it any less. In fact, anyone with nerve pain will tell you the pain that you can't see is the worst. We all know that if you break a leg, it will hurt for a time, but it will heal. Nerve pain is not like that.

Don't judge someone on how they seem from the outside. Think about what it is like living in their bodies. Have some compassion, and if you don't understand their pain, a simple internet search will tell you all you need to know. I can tell you that I wouldn't wish this pain on my worst enemy.

It is difficult for families and friends of those afflicted with Trigeminal Neuralgia, as I know that they feel powerless. The best thing that you can do for someone living with chronic pain, is listen. That's all that's needed. Work, college and a normal life isn't always possible when  you live with chronic pain, so bear that in mind. When your friend tells you that they can't go to work or out for a drink because of pain, don't laugh it off and call them lazy. That is insensitive, insulting and completely untrue.

Fighting the Dark Days

There are so many dark days when you suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia. There are days when you would do anything for a respite from the burning pain. It is so difficult to describe the pain. Some say it's like being stabbed in the ear with an ice pick, others say its like being burned. For me the It feels like there are hot coals underneath my skin. The pain radiates from by lower jaw to my ear and the entire left side of my face. I get sudden jolts of excruciating pain, which sometimes last for minutes. On a normal day I can get between 10 and 20 jolts. Medication may be helping, but it's still early days.

On these dark days, it is so important not to let Trigeminal Neuralgia beat you. When you wake up, make a decision. Do your make-up, hair and wear something pretty (if you are a guy reading this, just shower and shave, maybe put on a nice shirt etc)

I find that making a little effort helps keeps me sane and positive. My body does scream at me to stay wrapped up in bed, but I have to fight. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I let Trigeminal Neuralgia beat me. It's impossible to stay strong all the time. Do not let Trigeminal Neuralgia define you, it's a condition and it's serious, but try and maintain some sort of a life!

On a dark day, contact a support group. There are dozens on Facebook for example and I find them fantastic. There are people stuck in the same darkness and by helping each other, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Get The Correct Diagnosis!

When I received my Trigeminal Neuralgia diagnosis, I felt both relief and complete and utter horror all wrapped into one.

In one sense, I have a incurable condition that causes excruciating and constant pain. The other side of the coin is, well at least it's not fatal. Trigeminal Neuralgia won't kill me, it's not a degenerative disease and some surgeries and procedures can take away the pain for a while. On the whole, things could have been a hell of a lot worse.

I was tremendously lucky that I was diagnosed quickly. My GP knew straight away what I was suffering from and after speaking to some people with TN, I have found that it is quite rare for a GP to have such knowledge. Many people have had multiple teeth removed, been sent for several useless tests and sometimes they have even been told that the pain is "all in their head." I have heard of people that have waited over ten years for a clear diagnosis, while I barely waited ten minutes. It makes me wonder how people coped years ago, before TN was known about. Were sufferers deemed insane? Were they sent to institutions? It is called the suicides disease for a reason. Sufferers MUST get the care they need.

The moral of the story is this; if your doctor isn't sympathetic, knowledgeable, and willing to ensure that you receive the proper treatment and medication necessary, get a new one!
Remember, nobody knows your body better than you. You know when there is something wrong, and do not give up on getting a correct diagnosis! Go to an Accident and Emergency Department if the pain gets too bad!
Some dentists are also excellent at diagnosing TN, as early symptoms often present as a severe toothache.

Unfortunately in Ireland, there is a severe shortage of Neurologists and pain specialists, but with our abysmal health system that is hardly a surprise. Trigeminal Neuralgia is tough to diagnose, as it normally doesn't show up on scans, it's up to the doctor to listen to their patient and diagnose from the symptoms evident. It is also normal to be sent for CT scans and MRI scans to make sure there isn't anything more sinister going on, ie brain tumours.

Building up awareness will not only help sufferers of TN, but it will also force medical professionals to be more vigilant. Fortunately Trigeminal Neuralgia is quite rare, usually 4-5 in 100,000 people will be affected. Women over 50 are more prone to TN, but at 28 I am in the minority. TN can also affect teenagers and even children, so a correct diagnosis is essential.

The thoughts of a person suffering alone is abhorrent to me. There is plenty of support out there. Should anyone need links to support groups, let me know. There are plenty of great ones on Facebook and Google +.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness!

The lack of awareness out there astounds me. People haven't a clue what Trigeminal Neuralgia is, they think it's no big deal. Someone the other day told me that she had neuralgia after getting a tooth extraction, and after a few days the pain went. Trying to explain what TN is can be a battle. People don't understand, because I look fine. I have no open wounds, no broken bones and o visible sign of pain. It is so frustrating!

The International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day is on October 7th this year. We need to spread the word about this condition. Please share this post, and I would welcome any suggestions about promoting awareness.
 
Television, radio and print media are options, and I intend on contacting several different programmes, stations and newspapers. If there is a celebrity out there with some understanding of Trigeminal Neuralgia, it would be awesome to get their support.

I would like if other people with TN would join me.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day

Click the link below to find out more about International Trigeminal Neuralgia Day 2014. Spread awareness!!

Light Up Teal for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Fight Trigeminal Neuralgia!