Hi helping mommy,

I think it is great that you want to help your mom. She is lucky to have you. The best way you can help her is to ask her to call her doctotor. There is help.

Very few people with MS also have trigeminal neuralgia, perhaps less than 4%. It is also commonly called TN for the initials, tic doloreux, or simply facial pain. It happens when the trigeminal nerve is compressed too tightly.

You are right to understand the pain. It is called the most intense pain of any MS symptom, and I have often read that it is one of the worst pains known to the medical community. I know it is the worst pain I have ever had. Although the intense pain usually lasts a short time, but the aftermath is painful as well.

It certainly interferes with daily life -- eating, drinking, talking. When the pain has subsided, there is still fear that it will return without warning. After a long period of attacks, the feeling that it will return never leaves. It does sound scary, doesn't it. Your mom will appreciate your understanding and kindness.

One of the best treatments, as Lisa said, is Tegritol, an anticonvulsant. When I first started using Tegritol, it was a long time before I had another attack. Then, when I had a major bout of several attacks, my doctor gave me another pain-killer to take on top of the Tegritol. I have not had a major attack since then, and I have been able to forget about it for long periods.

The good news is that treatment is available. Thank you for helping her. Please let us know how she is doing. Also please let me know if this is helpful to you.

Good luck, and keep in touch. Thank you.