My journey with Trigeminal Neuralgia
October 16th, 2023: The world is still cloaked in darkness at 5 am when Dennis nudges me awake. It’s an ungodly hour, but there’s a mission at hand – a pre-dawn pilgrimage to the UAB Highlands Pain Clinic in Birmingham, AL. The reason for this early awakening? It’s Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain Block Day! By 7 …
Read more “From Pre-Dawn to the Pain Block: A Day in the Life of a TN Warrior”
October 15th, 2023: Ding, ding, ding! The moment I’d been eagerly awaiting finally arrived – the Cervical MRI results are in. As I tear open the digital envelope to unravel the findings, there’s a twist in the tale. No news on the Trigeminal Neuralgia front. However, what I do discover is a troop of four …
Read more “MRI Revelations: When TN Meets the Bulging Disc Brigade”
October 14th, 2023 Impatience tends to be my close companion, especially when it involves medical test results. As of today, the much-awaited news regarding the cervical MRI is still in transit, testing the limits of my resolve. With two chiropractic visits under my belt, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of a difference it …
Read more “Patience and Experimentation: A Day in the Life of TN Testing”
October 13th, 2023 As the digital ink dries on my MRI results for the brain, I can let out a sigh of relief – no abnormalities detected. A resounding “WHEW!” echoed through my mind and soul. I must admit, though, I’d somehow spiraled into a whirlwind of worry in the hours leading up to this …
Read more “MRI Results and Worrisome Wanderings: My Trigeminal Neuralgia Odyssey Continues”
October 12th, 2023 Ah, Thursday – the day the universe decided to test my mettle while substitute teaching. It started like any other day, but soon enough, my unwelcome companion, Trigeminal Neuralgia, decided to clock in. Imagine this: I’m in front of a classroom full of eager minds, ready to share wisdom and knowledge. Suddenly, …
Read more “When Pain Clocks in at Work: A Substitute Teacher’s Trigeminal Neuralgia Chronicles”
October 11th, 2023 Just as the clock struck 7:45 am, I embarked on a telehealth adventure with not one, not two, but three doctors from the UAB Highlands Pain Clinic – a trio of medical knights ready to tackle my Trigeminal Neuralgia head-on. The star-studded lineup included Dr. Paul, Dr. Brooks (who was my precious …
Read more “The Power of Telehealth and Healing Hands: My Trigeminal Neuralgia Journey Continues”
October 10th, 2023 In the world of healthcare, I’m quite confident that my recent visit to Dr. David Wilhelm earned me a spot in his “Top 10 Most Bizarre Patient Ailments” list. Allow me to paint you a quick picture: a pain so severe it’s like having a simultaneous toothache, migraine, and earache, all conspiring …
Read more “A Date with Destiny: My Trigeminal Neuralgia Diagnosis”
Circa September 2023 Picture this – it had been a sunny day near the end of September. I’m now relaxing in the evening, with my head lying in Dennis’ lap binging on Netflix. Out of nowhere, an unexpected guest decides to visit. This guest, however, is not of the friendly, drop-in-for-tea variety. No, it’s a …
Read more “Mystery on My Left Chin: My Trigeminal Neuralgia Journey Begins”