Trigeminal Neuralgia- what pain meds

[ericamanda01]

I switched over to Hydrocodone almost a year ago and I feel like I am having to take more and more each month. I switched over from dilaudid and feel more alert, but it doesn't work as well for the pain. Is there an affective pain med that won't leave me groggy and doped up but will still work on the pain?

Thanks for any reply's.

 

[DawnCt1]

I switched over to Hydrocodone almost a year ago and I feel like I am having to take more and more each month. I switched over from dilaudid and feel more alert, but it doesn't work as well for the pain. Is there an affective pain med that won't leave me groggy and doped up but will still work on the pain?

Thanks for any reply's.

Have you consulted a pain specialist? A neurologist? Has anyone considered Lyrica or Neurontin?

 

[Poohlovr]

Generally, narcotics are not accepted as an effective source of pain relief for nerve pain (which, of course, TN is).

http://www.howtocopewithpain.org/blog/169/medication-pain-narcotic-opiate/

1. Effectiveness
Unfortunately, while narcotics are great for acute pain, they often don’t work so well for chronic pain, especially nerve pain. The balance of good effects versus problems may not be so favorable in chronic pain.

Some people report relief with the morphine suckers, but to honest, I'm not going there.

Are you taking any of the meds generally recommended for TN pain relief-Tegretol, Neurontin, Lyrica, Dilantin, Baclofen, Gabitril, Klonopin, etc? If you are, I've found that it sometimes takes a "cocktail" mixture of these to be effective. At one point, I was on 4 or 5 at one time.

If you have exhausted all of the pharmacological avenues without relief, it may be time to research surgical relief.

I had a Gamma Knife (which really is not surgical, as it is non-invasive)12 yrs ago, after I had gone the route of medications. For about 9 yrs, I was totally pain free. Now I have minimal-moderate pain, but get relief with 1200mg of Tegretol daily.

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Good luck.

 

[Ohiodislover]

My boss uses tegretol, and a tens unit. Not sure what narcs he is on currently, a few months ago he was using dilaudid. I do know that he smokes pot at night. I'm being serious, he does, and says it helps immensely.

 

[ericamanda01]

I have tried every medicine for prevention, and none of them work. Tegretol worked for a month then for the next year nothing, even with increased amounts. I am going to have Gamma Knife next year and I can't wait. As for the pain meds I use now, your right, they don't make the pain go away, but they make the pain something I can function with. I have to go in to my nuro. soon for my check up, but I am worried that we won't find the right combo. I really hope it's just something simple of the dosage on the preventative meds being too low. Thanks for your help.

 

[mickeyboat]

I am so sorry to hear that you are still in so much pain. Why do you have to wait so long before the Gmama Knife surgery? You were such a wonderful support to me when I was diagnosed by my quack PCP last year. I will always remember your kindness. I hope you find some relief soon.

Denae

 

[jojo9610]

1800 mgs of Neurontin worked for me. I walked around like a zombie but it took away the pain. Nothing else worked. I finally had MVD surgery about 5 years ago. I've been pain free since. I wouldn't hesitate to have it done again if the pain ever returned.