My mom has a condition called trigeminal neuralgia. It is often referred to as the Suicide Disease.
She has suffered from it for about ten years and has gotten worse over time. It took her forever to be diagnosed and now she is under the care of a neurologist that she trusts. The pain prevents her from eating, talking, and just living life.
The pain’s intensity comes and goes, but it is always there. For the past week she has had a flare up. She went to the emergency room and they just knocked her out. The following day she went to her neurologist and he gave a shot that should have helped. That was on Wednesday and she is still miserable.
The problem is that even the strongest pain medication does not help. I believe that the only thing that works is an anti-seizure medicine and even that does not always work. The neurologist claimed that he could give her a shot that should make everything better, but not this time.
There is currently no cure for TN and it is still not fully understood. It is often misdiagnosed as a number of other things. There is a controversial surgery that some claims it works and some says it does more good than harm.
I will say it has ruined my mom’s life and our family dynamic has forever changed.
Today it put our relationship to the test yet again. I called my mom to check on her. She was still in pain. I called her doctor and he told her to go to the ER. My mom refused. I could not understand her logic. Why stay in pain and be miserable? Why suffer? I tried to convince her to go, but she would not budge. So I had to accept that.
And I tried to eat my pain away with enough Taco Bell for three people.
I can do nothing to help my mom. I fear that I add to her stress.
I do not know what to do.
