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My Story

Hi, my name is Robert. My story started at age 20, in early 2013 when I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Back in April on this year (2013), I started experiencing facial pain that felt like electricity running along my top lip, on the left side of my face. To start with, I tried to just brush it off - I thought maybe i'd slept awkwardly, or it would just go away. Unfortunately, it was not so and after a month it was unbearable. It had got to the point where the pain felt like a knife had been plugged into the main's electricity and was being dragged through my teeth, across my lip and through the middle of my face. I couldn't eat, I couldn't brush my teeth, talking became nigh on impossible. I just wanted to cry all the time. I'd only been affected such a short time but already my quality of life had been affected.

That's why I decided to change my outlook. I had to spread the word about Trigeminal Neuralgia and help raise money to get other therapries and support for people going!

What is it?

TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) is where your trigeminal nerve (the nerve that provides sensation (feeling) to your face) malfunctions and instead of sending feeling, it sends pain to the brain. 

This isn't a dull ache, it is a sharp, unbearable pain that is described as an electric shock or a red hot poker by sufferers. 

Now imagine this pain in day-to-day life, not knowing if you can go outside because the wind might set off multiple episodes, or if you can eat dinner in a restraunt for fear of flinching badly every time you try to take a bite. That is TN! 

Who does it affect?

Trigeminal Neuralgia affects 1 in 15,000 people, although the number is thought to be a lot higher due to it being a grey area between Dentistry & Medicine meaning people are often misdiagnosed. It can affect anyone at any age, although is more common in those over 40.

TN is currently treated with drugs used for epilepsy, but in much higher doses. These often cause side effects in individuals. Surgery tends to involve damaging the nerve which causes facial numbness or recurrent pain that is worse. 

My Aspirations

I am a dental student and dentistry is all I have ever wanted to do. Getting Trigeminal Neuralgia has not & will not stop me. In fact, I now am perfectly equipped to diagnose this horrendous condition and stop people from having multiple teeth extracted by mistake - helping to minimise suffering and get them back on the road.

My Message

I've only given a snippet of insight into TN, but I hope you give whatever you can to helping tackle it. 

Together, we can beat the pain!

 

Update: I had a Microvascular Decompression Surgery in December 2013 and have been in remission for over a year now - this doesn't mean I've stopped fundraising and am currently very actively involved with the TNA.

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