Hello, My name is Charlotte McLaughlin. I have struggled with Trigeminal Neuralgia for over 15 years and Anesthesia Dolorosa for 3 years. I am almost 50 years old. I am married with a totally supportive and loving husband and a near 20 year old daughter at the University of Pittsburg. My husband and I live in Silver Spring, Maryland. I have lived in this area all of my life. I hope to explain how my life has changed so much during these years.

It all started around 15 years ago when I had a very bad tooth ache on the left side of my face. I went to my dentist who said I had a cavity in my left upper molar. This was filled and then later the pain returned so a root canal and cap were done. Months later the pain returned and I was told the tooth beside it needed filling and this was done. Of course the pain returned and a root canal and cap were done. The dentist said I had problems in my sinuses.

To the Ear, Nose and Ear doctor I went. There I was told it was sinus infection after sinus infection. CT scan’s were done and I was then told it was a deviated septum and other problems. Surgery scheduled and off I went on treatment after treatment. After a few years of this I was told I had allergies and needed to be tested and have shots. Pain still in my left side of face I was told I was allergic to everything it seemed. After more than a year of allergy shots, continuing pain and sinus infections one of my left lower molars seemed to be the problem. The dentist suggested the cavity, root canal and cap way. At This point and over 6 years of pain I said NO and had the tooth pulled.

This began a whole new saga of pain that I did not know existed. The night I had my tooth pulled, I woke up at 4:00 A.M. in Pain I can not wish on any person. That night I went to the hospital for the pain. While I was there I was told this was a tooth problem and given a shot and sent home. Next day pain returned. At this time I was an office manager for a physician and he advised I go back to the hospital. However, after the way I was treated the previous night it seemed fruitless. My husband and I decided to go to another hospital and I was given a shot and sent on my way. I had called my dentist 3 different times and was told I should not have this much pain as she pulled everything out. Neither one of these hospitals had or has a NEURLOGIST ON CALL as of today.

Unfortunately for me this was a 3 day holiday. I finally saw a neurologist on Tuesday who immediately knew what this was after hearing my history. I went for the M.R.I. which was negative. We started with Tegretol, Duragesic Patch, and worked our way from there. I have tried so many different medicines that anyone reading this would understand. My primary care physicians have been my saviors thru this all. The change of medicines has continued all the time. One thing I must make clear is that since my first day and up until the present time I have continued to wear one strength or another of the Duragesic Patch. I have gotten this down to a very low amount of a 25mg patch every 5 days. At one time it was 100mg’s every 2 days.

At this point I started surgical ways of trying to end the PAIN.

My 1st surgery was a Glycerin Rhizotomy. This did not work at all. The doctor felt I should have it done again which I did. Some help but not much.

The 3rd surgery was a Glycerin Rhizotomy and a Radiofrequency Rhizotomy. This was referred to as a double whammy. This did work for maybe six months. I was still on meds.

The 4th surgery was my first Microvascular Decompression which again worked for maybe 6 months. At which point my doctor scheduled me for my 5th treatment, The Gamma Knife. In my personal opinion this did not help much at all.

After a year I went to see Dr. Jannetta and Dr. Casey (TNA Medical Advisory Board members) in Pittsburgh. At this point I was given a 50/50 chance for my 6th treatment, My 2nd Microvascular Decompression. However, I was told that there were other procedures which could be done if this did not help. Immediately after surgery I noticed the Anesthesia Dolorosa. Once I returned to Maryland my left eye was sewn shut and has remained so for almost 3 years now. At this point I was unable to go back to work. Again this worked for maybe 6 months and I was told not to come back for a year. After seeing a different dentist I was told the first root canal needed to be pulled and was by an oral surgeon.

Dr. Jannetta then referred me to Dr. Jeffery Brown (TNA Medical Advisory Board member). At this point I have finally been declared disabled by Social Security.

While waiting to be seen by Dr. Brown I began seeing two different psychologists to help me deal with my pain. They taught me relaxation techniques and we did hypnosis to work on the pain. At This point the pain was in control of me.

I tried to see Pain Management doctors, however I was turned down once they read my chart and realized this was far beyond their scope of knowledge.

My 7th surgery was the Motor Cortex Stimulator implantation. This was done last June. The results have been unimaginable. I have really great days and some not so great but none as bad as they were. I can Control the stimulation. My only true problem left is my Anesthesia Dolorosa. I have problems with the dry eye which sometimes can not be controlled that well. Dr. Brown and I are working on the parameters to control this. For those of you with this problem, the hope of regaining feeling in your face is there. I have gained so much back. I am able to taste my food better now. I do have the itching on the top of my head but it is being controlled with Capzasin HP cream. Be careful not to get in other eye, mouth, or nose it will Burn. I no longer feel like I just walked out of a dentist’s office. My meds are cut back so much. My friends, family and doctors do not believe it is the same person. I now feel I am in control and this problem does not control me. My head is clear and not in a fog. Dr. Brown has given me the longest reprieve from the pain in a decade. Dr. Brown and I have done a video since the surgery. I wish we would have done one before surgery to show the difference. People would not have known it was the same person.

I would like all to understand, that since my surgery, I have been able to lower my pain medication so much that I realized I had a problem with my right knee. After seeing the Orthopedist it was determined that I had a very bad torn ligament in my knee. Now after two surgeries and my second round of physical therapy I am walking much better. This surgery may show where you have other problems and you must be prepared. I WAS NOT. I had 4 cracked ribs, fractured tale bone, and 3 toes broken. There is light at the end of the tunnel you just have to reach for it. DO NOT GIVE UP!

Do yourself a favor and come April 16th to hear Dr. Brown speak about the procedure. I will be there as a lay person to show how it works. Feel free to ask any question. After all of this nothing is embarrassing. I can say that I would never have had all those surgeries if I could have done this first.

Posted 4-10-07