Comments on: Mayo Clinic Finds Posterior Fossa Exploration Surgery Provides Better Pain Relief for Trigeminal Neuralgia http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/ Medical and Scientific News and Stories about Mayo Clinic Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:37:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Buckoux http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-5176 Buckoux Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:45:28 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-5176 You TNA patients out there had better come to the realization that medical science does NOT KNOW what causes this pain. I have had TN for more than half my life and have had some of the less involved surgeries to no avail. If the present surgeries for TNA were pharmaceuticals instead and had to through double blind clinical studies, the FDA would NOT approve them. It's time to stop feeding the surgical medical mill until there is an actual breakthrough in the treatment of this condition. Until then, learn to get along with the anti-convulsants and pain medications. Find a physician who will help you learn to function with the minimum dosage of medications and make sure to get adequate sleep. That's how I've survived these 38 years with TNA. Stay away from these surgeries. I suspect that the reported successes are either the "placebo" effect or the patient telling the surgeon what he wants to hear just to get away from him. Am I right? Good luck to us all and Godspeed to the discovery of the real treatment. You TNA patients out there had better come to the realization that medical science does NOT KNOW what causes this pain. I have had TN for more than half my life and have had some of the less involved surgeries to no avail. If the present surgeries for TNA were pharmaceuticals instead and had to through double blind clinical studies, the FDA would NOT approve them. It’s time to stop feeding the surgical medical mill until there is an actual breakthrough in the treatment of this condition. Until then, learn to get along with the anti-convulsants and pain medications. Find a physician who will help you learn to function with the minimum dosage of medications and make sure to get adequate sleep. That’s how I’ve survived these 38 years with TNA. Stay away from these surgeries. I suspect that the reported successes are either the “placebo” effect or the patient telling the surgeon what he wants to hear just to get away from him. Am I right? Good luck to us all and Godspeed to the discovery of the real treatment.

]]> By: Dalton http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-1569 Dalton Fri, 06 May 2011 16:05:36 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-1569 At last! Someone who unetdrsands! Thanks for posting! At last! Someone who unetdrsands! Thanks for posting!

]]> By: Amanda Jensen http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-370 Amanda Jensen Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:04:21 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-370 Just wanting to check that you did receive my return email...have been waiting patiently for a return call from you. Thank you. Amanda Jensen Just wanting to check that you did receive my return email…have been waiting patiently for a return call from you.
Thank you.
Amanda Jensen

]]> By: Elizabeth Rice http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-369 Elizabeth Rice Thu, 26 Aug 2010 19:11:40 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-369 Hi Amanda - Thank you for your comment and questions. You will be receiving an e-mail from me shortly, and we'll see if we can figure out whether our Mayo Clinic trigeminal neuralgia experts can help your mother. Thanks, Elizabeth Hi Amanda – Thank you for your comment and questions. You will be receiving an e-mail from me shortly, and we’ll see if we can figure out whether our Mayo Clinic trigeminal neuralgia experts can help your mother.

Thanks,
Elizabeth

]]> By: Amanda Jensen http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-368 Amanda Jensen Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:01:10 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-368 My mother has had undiagnosed TN for 15 years until this last year. Been to over 40 different dentists/ents/neurologists/tmj specialists/oral surgeons/chiropractors and $60,000 later still suffers in pain...NOT one doctor has ever mentioned surgery to her and it took her being in so much pain she was halucinating before they would get her pain under control and admit her. My mom has been living a life of hell not knowing one day to the next how she will feel and thank God my dad makes enough money to have her able to stay home as she can not work with this condition. Recently her neurologist refered her to Mayo and they denied her stating they don't know what other tests they could perform on her. What does it take for someone to take on a difficult case and not just pass you on to someone else to deal with? Why can't they look at her case and talk about surgery? What sort of criteria do you have to meet in order to be considered for this exploratory surgery?!! My mother has had undiagnosed TN for 15 years until this last year. Been to over 40 different dentists/ents/neurologists/tmj specialists/oral surgeons/chiropractors and $60,000 later still suffers in pain…NOT one doctor has ever mentioned surgery to her and it took her being in so much pain she was halucinating before they would get her pain under control and admit her. My mom has been living a life of hell not knowing one day to the next how she will feel and thank God my dad makes enough money to have her able to stay home as she can not work with this condition. Recently her neurologist refered her to Mayo and they denied her stating they don’t know what other tests they could perform on her. What does it take for someone to take on a difficult case and not just pass you on to someone else to deal with? Why can’t they look at her case and talk about surgery? What sort of criteria do you have to meet in order to be considered for this exploratory surgery?!!

]]> By: Elizabeth Rice http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-366 Elizabeth Rice Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:37:42 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-366 Hi Gloria, Microvascular decompression is a type of posterior fossa exploration surgery. More information about treatments for Trigeminal Neuralgia can be found on the Mayo Clinic web site at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/trigeminal-neuralgia/treatment.html. Hi Gloria,

Microvascular decompression is a type of posterior fossa exploration surgery. More information about treatments for Trigeminal Neuralgia can be found on the Mayo Clinic web site at: http://www.mayoclinic.org/trigeminal-neuralgia/treatment.html.

]]> By: Elizabeth Rice http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-365 Elizabeth Rice Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:43:44 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-365 Susan, According to Dr. Pollock, the general answer is that yes, a patient who previously had Gamma Knife may still be a surgical candidate. However, an evaluation to determine the patients' overall health and amount of nerve damage from prior surgeries would be necessary. If you'd like to request an appointment at Mayo Clinic, you can call one of these numbers: Arizona: 480-422-1646 Florida: 904-494-6487 Minnesota: 888-509-8773 Susan,
According to Dr. Pollock, the general answer is that yes, a patient who previously had Gamma Knife may still be a surgical candidate. However, an evaluation to determine the patients’ overall health and amount of nerve damage from prior surgeries would be necessary. If you’d like to request an appointment at Mayo Clinic, you can call one of these numbers:

Arizona: 480-422-1646
Florida: 904-494-6487
Minnesota: 888-509-8773

]]> By: Susan Johnson http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-364 Susan Johnson Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:15:36 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-364 I have had TN many years. Lucky, family Dr. and dentist diagnosed right away. Take moderate to large doses of tegretol to control pain. Have had gamma knife twice, fair amount of nerve damage to left side of face. When it flares up badly (never completely goes away) it is like lightning strikes. I have pain from scalp and straight across from ear pain,across top of mouth, no lower pain. It is amping up again. Is a person who previously had gamma knife a candidate for surgery? I have had TN many years. Lucky, family Dr. and dentist diagnosed right away. Take moderate to large doses of tegretol to control pain. Have had gamma knife twice, fair amount of nerve damage to left side of face. When it flares up badly (never completely goes away) it is like lightning strikes. I have pain from scalp and straight across from ear pain,across top of mouth, no lower pain. It is amping up again. Is a person who previously had gamma knife a candidate for surgery?

]]> By: Gloria S. Allen http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-363 Gloria S. Allen Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:56:35 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-363 I should have explained that I have already undergone in glycerol injection treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. I should have explained that I have already undergone in glycerol injection treatment for trigeminal neuralgia.

]]> By: Gloria S. Allen http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/27/mayo-clinic-finds-posterior-fossa-exploration-surgery-provides-better-pain-relief-for-trigeminal-neuralgia/#comment-362 Gloria S. Allen Sat, 27 Mar 2010 16:54:46 +0000 http://newsblog.mayoclinic.org/?p=1433#comment-362 What is involved with posterior fossa exploratory surgery. That is, how does it compare, for example, to what a patient undergoes with microvascular nerve decoompression surgery? What is involved with posterior fossa exploratory surgery. That is, how does it compare, for example, to what a patient undergoes with microvascular nerve decoompression surgery?

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