Post 685 Yesterdays question 8 Sep 2020

[RoyceNewton]

G’day my beloved ms family, I hope “YOU” are all well and looking forward to another day. I hope it is gloomy, not dark and we all understand it can never be fully bright, we have ms. Look at it as a scale. Dark, gloomy, bright. Be honest with yourself, realize that it is perfectly okay to break gloomy down further into whatever scale “YOU” like, that way gloomy can not be so bad. I think today I shall be a 7 gloomy. 8 is the beginning of bright, so 7 gloomy is okay.

Yesterday I asked what TN was. I am still not positive but from what everybody told me I believe it to be Trigeminal Neuralgia (TMJ). The suicide pain, at least that is what my Doctor once called it by mistake. She has been a friend for years so it was okay. We made a joke of it, funny how cynical we become over the years of pain. Is this a precursor to ms? I am not sure but it was got me diagnosed (DX’d) with ms. It flares and goes away. It really really hurts and no matter how many drugs “YOU” take, it will not calm down and stop hurting once it starts. Having said that yes it was a precursor to my ms. The only thing that fixed it temporarily (5 years or so) was lasses surgery. My understanding they shaved but not cut the Trigeminal nerve. I had laser surgery at Phoenix Cyberknife. I understand that there are other surgeries, but Cyberknife was the least invasive. I was done in a few hours, went to starbucks after and only took 5mg Valium before the procedure. I twitch to much so the Valium was just to put me to sleep. They did do an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Image) before the procedure as well. So, it was no big deal and was very nice to be pain free for several years.

If “YOU” have trigeminal Neuralgia (TMJ) it might be an option for “YOU”. I am not sure of the cost.

I think that might explain the quesiont. I am very sorry to say that NO drugs no matter what the dosage will stop the pain. I was told that there is a lifetime limit on how many surgeries “YOU” can have. There are side effects, at least there are for me. The left side of my mouth does droop and leak a little, but the pain is gone. If “YOU” have this issue be on the lookout for ms. I am not sure that TMJ equals ms all the time but it bares watching.

Royce (your ms writer and brother)

Have a great day, smile more it makes people wonder what you are up to

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

I have had TMJ for most of my life, Royce. I sleep with a night guard and it has helped with my teeth grinding. I don't think that TMJ is TN and visa versa. I didn't think that TMJ/TN was a precursor to 'ms', but it does present a interesting discussion. I will look into that, if nothing else but out of curiosity. Please further explain your gloomy index as I am not sure of the values ~ Wishing you a '10' if that means you have to wear shades! In the meantime, Keep Smiling

[RoyceNewton in reply to carolek572]

I think I worked it out TN is tinninitus ring in the ears, TMJ is trigeminal Neuralgia the 3 parts of the facial nerve, at least that is what I worked out, I wish paeople would explain their acronyms

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador in reply to RoyceNewton]

From the Mayo Clinic:

The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders — a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD — can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.

The exact cause of a person's TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth (bruxism), although many people habitually clench or grind their teeth and never develop TMJ disorders.

In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders is temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed, but some people with TMJ disorders may benefit from surgical treatments.

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That's my understanding of TMJ, Royce. I have a night guard for my TMJ, and have avoided surgery so far.

Keep Smiling, my friend

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador in reply to RoyceNewton]

Again. from the Mayo Clinic:

Overview

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.

You may initially experience short, mild attacks. But trigeminal neuralgia can progress and cause longer, more-frequent bouts of searing pain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects women more often than men, and it's more likely to occur in people who are older than 50.

Because of the variety of treatment options available, having trigeminal neuralgia doesn't necessarily mean you're doomed to a life of pain. Doctors usually can effectively manage trigeminal neuralgia with medications, injections or surgery.

Symptoms

Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms may include one or more of these patterns:

Episodes of severe, shooting or jabbing pain that may feel like an electric shock

Spontaneous attacks of pain or attacks triggered by things such as touching the face, chewing, speaking or brushing teeth

Bouts of pain lasting from a few seconds to several minutes

Episodes of several attacks lasting days, weeks, months or longer — some people have periods when they experience no pain

Constant aching, burning feeling that may occur before it evolves into the spasm-like pain of trigeminal neuralgia

Pain in areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or less often the eye and forehead

Pain affecting one side of the face at a time, though may rarely affect both sides of the face

Pain focused in one spot or spread in a wider pattern

Attacks that become more frequent and intense over time

Causes

In trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, the trigeminal nerve's function is disrupted. Usually, the problem is contact between a normal blood vessel — in this case, an artery or a vein — and the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain. This contact puts pressure on the nerve and causes it to malfunction.

Trigeminal neuralgia can occur as a result of aging, or it can be related to multiple sclerosis or a similar disorder that damages the myelin sheath protecting certain nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia can also be caused by a tumor compressing the trigeminal nerve.

Some people may experience trigeminal neuralgia due to a brain lesion or other abnormalities. In other cases, surgical injuries, stroke or facial trauma may be responsible for trigeminal neuralgia.

Triggers

A variety of triggers may set off the pain of trigeminal neuralgia, including:

Shaving

Touching your face

Eating

Drinking

Brushing your teeth

Talking

Putting on makeup

Encountering a breeze

Smiling

Washing your face

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I learn something new every day, Royce

[RoyceNewton in reply to carolek572]

They did not say it is rather uncomfortable, hmm painful

[msjoy333]

Pardon me if I missed it - but did the surgery work?

[RoyceNewton in reply to msjoy333]

trigerminal neuralgia cyberknife surgery, yes it has worked so far, it should last another few years. It is shaving NOT cutting the trigeminal nerve. I highly recomend it, if it is needed