Living with Extreme Pain

Waking up on a beautiful morning like this one used to cause me joy. I love to see the sun out, a cloudless sky overhead and a cacophony of birds singing. But after two hours sleep, and trigeminal neuralgia pain, I barely even notice the weather. 

Sleep deprivation is beginning to take it's toll. I can notice it in myself that I have permanent bags under my eyes, I am extremely pale (and as I am a red head that gets a sunburn in five minutes, that is saying something.) I also have little or no energy. Constant pain is taking so much away from me. The burning never ceases, the stabbing pain feels like there is an ice-pick plunging into my left ear and all those shocks... they literally bring me to my knees. 

These aren't the only symptoms though. I have little vision in my left eye (still, after six weeks) and occasionally my left arm goes numb, then pain shoots up and down from my neck and shoulder to my fingers. The dexterity in my left hand is also poor and I am freaking out over it. This could be a part of the migraine element to my TN coming out to play. As my Trigeminal Neuralgia is type 2, I get no relief, no rest and no respite from this hell. 

I am living in hope that these medications I am taking religiously will start to ease this pain, but after a year the pain is getting increasingly worse. What I called a 10 a few weeks ago is now an 8, the new 10 has hit me like a sledgehammer, I didn't think my body could cope with this, and I don't know what I will do if the pain gets any worse. 

There is so much that I can't do any more, so many things that I used to enjoy that has little or no meaning to me now. Last year I read over 150 books, I devoured them, but with the loss of vision, low concentration and increasing pain, I find it hard to read as much. I still read, but occasionally, and I know I am missing out. The list could go on and on. 

I know there are people out there in a worse state that I am in, and I do have a lot to be grateful for. I have an amazing family, who do everything they can to help and support me. I also have also met some terrific people from a support group (links below).

Depression is something I am trying to fight. I have read a lot of how people cope the chronic pain, and depression comes hand in hand with pain sometimes. Accepting and making peace with the fact that I have this condition has helped. For the longest time, the impact was lost on me, but now I get it. There are things that I can't do at the moment, and that will change in the future (I hope). 

Despite everything that Trigeminal Neuralgia and facial pain can take from us, we have to keep hoping, keep fighting, and although there are days that the excruciating pain seems never-ending, there is a lot to be grateful for. I feel that I have become more understanding of people suffering pain, and although there are people around us that haven't a clue what TN is, they may be fighting their own battles. I know what it feels like to be alone and wallow in self pity, and there are days that it takes over, but every TN warrior needs to reach out to others, accept help and then give help in return. It isn't a vicious circle, it's a great one. 

I have discovered a TN group and the people are all awesome. I know that there are support groups around the globe, and I am also a member of some of these too. The people in these groups are so kind and caring and above all they understand the pain, the desperation and the anger like no one else. 

I know I am suffering from hellish pain and sleep deprivation on top of that, but I am not alone. My GP is also on my side, and that in itself is valuable. He knows everything about TN, and he understands the pain, the anger and the sadness. Having a good doctor is crucial, and if anyone reads this who are not happy with their current GP, it is easy to find another one. 

If the pain is beginning to take over, and the anger is beginning to boil over, reach out! If you aren't on Facebook, contact me and if I can help I will, and if I cannot help I will point you in the right direction. I have this monster for a year, and I learn new things about it every day.

 It is so rare, correct information is so sparse, and that has prompted us at the Trigeminal Neuralgia Ireland Support Group to set up a webpage, fight to light buildings up teal for the International Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day on October 7th, and we have also fought and won to get noticed in the media!! There was an Irish Independent article featuring some of our group members discussing TN! It's a small step to awareness, but right now it's momentous. 

Some crucial links:

Trigeminal Ireland Web Page 

Irish Independent Article on Trigeminal Neuralgia







Trigeminal Neuralgia Ireland Support Group

My Battle With Trigeminal Neuralgia - Facebook

Beating back the Pain

How much longer do I have to wait for these meds to start working? The pain is more than I can handle at the moment, and I am trying all the time to distract myself so I won't start feeling sorry for myself.

That is my huge fear. Wallowing in self pity doesn't do anything to help. In actual fact I believe that it will make everything seem worse. We all have stress in our lives, and we all have things that need to be done on a daily basis. It doesn't matter if you have children to care for or plants to water, we with Trigeminal Neuralgia need to keep focusing on everyday activities so that the pain won't be so hard to bear. Don't misunderstand me, this pain is worse than I could have ever imagined, and for me it is constant.

There are days that it takes colossal effort to run a brush through my hair and brush my teeth. The point is that these things need to be done. It hurts like a bitch, but unless we warriors keep fighting, this pain will win.

When you suffer from Chronic Pain, a lot of the time your life changes. My life certainly has. Some things that I enjoyed before are gone.. I worry sometimes for my mental health, and I am trying to beat back the pain.

So I am waiting for these medications to take some of my pain away, trying all the time to push myself all the time to make an effort, complete necessary tasks on a daily basis. It is not easy and I fail sometimes, but I don't beat myself up about it because it's ok to fail at times. The fact that I try is the important thing.

It is vital that everyone with Trigeminal Neuralgia  tries their best to think positively, pushes themselves constantly and try to avoid wallowing. I know the pain is demonic, believe me I know.

Until there is more awareness and a cure, we need to fight, educate everyone around us and have compassion for those of us who are having a tough time. Lend a hand, even if it is a get well message. It makes all the difference.