Living with Trigeminal Neuralgia
Daily life with chronic pain, exhaustion, laughter, and love.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve in one or both sides of the face and can cause intense pain. The trigeminal nerve provides sensation to your head and face and is made up of three branches; Ophthalmic branch (V1), Maxillary branch (V2), and the Mandibular branch (V3). An estimated 150,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed each year, mostly women over the age of 50.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is life-altering. Simple activities like talking, chewing, brushing your teeth, being in the wind, and much more are triggers that can bring on intense pain lasting for seconds, hours, days, weeks, or longer. Symptoms can include burning, throbbing, numbness, tingling, stinging, shocks, and more.
It’s possible to live with chronic pain
I’m Lisa and I have been living with Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia (aka ATN or TN2) since 2018. Trigeminal Neuralgia is one of the most painful chronic illnesses. I have both constant pain and pain attacks. I never get a break. Every day with TN is unique, you never know what will happen or how much pain you’ll be in. Follow my journey as I seek relief and share tricks to cope with horrific chronic pain and find inspiration along the way.
From the Blog
Learn about living with chronic pain, procedures, medications, Lisa’s medical journey, and hope.
Meet the Care Team
Being surrounded by people that love and care for you makes a difference. From day to day needs and traveling for doctors appointments, having a care team that pushes you to seek the right help and to try each day is essential.
Chris
My husband never lets me be down or wallow in my pain. He’s there for every need and reminds me daily of just how far I’ve come.
Janet
My Mom is my travel partner to doctors appointments, procedures, and is always there to lend her motherly shoulder when I’m down.
Luna
Our Labradane is always down for a good snuggle. A giant lap dog, she likes to fall on you and share all her healing energy.
Follow on Instagram
Your job is to rest. Your body is going through some horrible things and your system is overloaded. It’s ok to sleep. It’s ok to take it easy. It’s ok the laundry isn’t done, the dishes need done, and there are piles forming on the kitchen island and table. Those things don’t matter. What matters is you. You are needed, which means you need to rest.