Catchin’ Some Rays (some radiation rays)

Today I had a new experience; new to me, but not new to the 15,000 sufferers of Trigeminal Neuralgia this past year, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

Actually my journey with TN began a couple of years ago with episodes of “electric shock-like” jabs along the side of my face. Each episode lasted from 10-15 minutes with twelve or so episodes daily. After four weeks these episodes disappeared as randomly as they had begun.

During those four weeks, I sought relief from dental experts hoping they would find something in my x-rays to explain the raw-nerve-like pain I was experiencing. Nothing showed up, nor did they have answers for me. When the pain disappeared, so did my search for pain relief.

In mid-January of 2022, the episodes revved up again – this time more frequent and more intense. Even though the pain resonated in my teeth, traveling upward through my jaw and ear, I knew the source was not dental. The neurologist who ordered an MRI identified the culprit as a dilated artery pressing on the trigeminal nerve – the large nerve on each side of the face. This impingement was the source of the erratic pain which was debilitating and driving me crazy.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a strange disorder, with no apparent pattern nor triggers that set it off. For me, I found nothing a trigger, yet everything a trigger. Sometimes heat set if off, other times, not. Sometimes chewing did, other times not. There was nothing I could identify that was a regular trigger that sent those “electric surges” through my face. And with each onset, there was nothing that would stop it. The best I could do was to hunker down and steel myself, waiting for the pain to subside.

Because of the weird placement of this particular artery on the nerve it is partying with, I am not a candidate for surgery – which is the usual and most effective way to deal with this problem. With the reality that most likely the episodes will grow more intense and frequent if not dealt with, the next option recommended by my surgeon was radio-surgery.

The picture here was taken during the radio-surgery procedure - a “surgery” using targeted radiation on the impingement site.

Accustomed to treating TN, the surgeon and doctors at Levine Cancer Center in Charlotte are on it! I’m grateful beyond expression to know this CRAZY HOUR RADIATION BLAST will most likely take care of the reoccurrence of this pain.

I feel extremely blessed that my journey has not been as long nor as intense as plenty of others have experienced. And I believe the reason for that is early intervention – which brings me to the primary purpose of this posting (that along with sharing the creepy picture.)

According to the oncologist/radiologist at Levine Cancer Center, many who suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia – and finally end up with him, have had teeth pulled and extensive dental work done, frantically searching for pain relief. With the ongoing pain after dental procedures, it eventually becomes apparent that something else is going on.

IT’S BETTER TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE PATIENT GETS IN A CRISIS SITUATION. . . Dr. Burri shares.

So; if you are experiencing SHARP ELECTRICAL NERVE PAIN (believe me, you’ll know it) along the side of your face – with no apparent dental issue identified as the source of it, do some research on the trigeminal nerve.

And should you discover your symptoms match those you find, congratulate yourself for having something weird – and then make an appointment with a neurologist who can set you on the road that leads to pain relief.

Sharing this post will help educate those who are not familiar with this strange disorder