Medical Trigeminal Neuropathy and Dental Work

[Abstract]

I do have other neuropathic pain due to an autoimmune disease, but the trigeminal neuropathy is my "favourite". Mine behaves like Trigeminal Neuralgia. It escalated to about two weeks of constant strings of stabbing attacks before treatment started kicking in and where I eventually couldn't speak or eat or drink as any would intensify them.

I've been in remission but have to have a considerable amount of dental work, and it can re trigger it, so it's not my most fun thing. They have upped pregabalin for a month before but still not in love with the idea. I still retch when I think of or have reminders of TN since that long patch. Grateful I have a high pain threshold. Lying in dental chair for a long time is also painful because of my other stuff.

I just need to try and be centered enough for tomorrow. Since my PTSD kicked off around 15 years ago, I also have a bit of a thing feeling trapped lying on a dental chair. Have just been doing one moment at a time to take me through. If I don't do the dental stuff I am more at risk for poor prognosis TNO wise longer term. I need to not be stupid and do what I have to do

 

[barefoot]

I haven't experienced trigeminal neuropathy but it sounds grim!

I do understand feeling trapped in a dental chair to some degree...I have a similar trigger with 'hopping up on the bed' for medical examinations.

So, the combination of pain and trigger sounds tricky.

It's not stupid to find this challenging or to feel unsure, anxious, avoidant etc. It's very understandable, actually! But, yeah....sometimes, with health stuff, I guess we do sometimes 'have to do what we have to do' as you say. And it sounds like, on balance, going ahead with this dental stuff is probably the right route for you.

I hope you will be able to lean on your skills and tools to keep yourself centred and that it goes well for you.

 

[Teasel]

Sounds really difficult, I hope it goes as well as it can for you @Abstract

 

[Abstract]

Thank you so much, @barefoot. It was really helpful to have both of your responses.

Good grief, I can even absorb support a bit these days without imploding. What a difference that makes.

Thanks for sharing your challenges too. I remember we shared a similar particular medical situation so can see why.

TN isn't a fun thing and is nicknamed the suicide disease, but I am very thankfully in remission, and I have to just push through and do what I have to to give myself the best chance of staying that way. I'm not sure how one stays sane if like it was before.

Thankfully Wednedays work didn't trigger it. Weirdly, my left face stayed numb and still hasnt totally normalised. I'm a bit frustrated with my dentist. But also don't want to annoy her too much, as I am only a fifth of the way through. Wednesday's session was 4 hours. I have another bout next Wednesday. They are trying to mitigate and prevent anything from potentially aggravating the TN.

I totally trusted her but am now veering into distrust and suspicion which my wise mind knows isn't really about her. I need to snap out of it, as it won't help me cope with what I need to do still.

I also have trauma therapy of a different sort tomorrow.

Thank you so much, @Teasel. Really appreciate it. And it is so lovely to see you too. I like your profile image.