My name is Atulbhai Patel. And I suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia since 2011. My pain was so severe that I considered suicide.
My life before MVD
I had severe pain that occurred very suddenly and without warning. It was like inserting parts of my face into an electric socket and getting a shock! The pain was excruciating. I used to live in constant dread of the pain. Initially the pain was more predictable and had trigger factors. Though medication helped for some time, the pain would come back, and the dose would be increased. This became a vicious cycle. Soon, the Trigeminal Neuralgia attacks became nearly continuous and appeared without any triggers. I never could predict when the pain would appear. This made me miserable. I felt depressed, and considered suicide many times.
Discovering a way out
It was around this time that I went to visit my son in the United States of America. During one of these attacks, I discussed my mental state with him, and my options. He immediately understood the seriousness of my pain and did some research on Trigeminal Neuralgia on the internet. He discovered that it could be cured by Microvascular Decompression surgery. Further searches led us to Dr Jaydev Panchwagh. To our pleasant surprise, he practiced in Pune, near Mumbai from where I am. I did not have to get operated in US. We contacted him, and he and his team arranged everything for us and my surgery.
Life after MVD
I underwent MicroVascular Decompression surgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia in 2016. I feel that I have been given a new life. It is now four years since my operation and I am completely pain-free. My social life is back to normal. Suggesting MVD surgery and sending me to Dr Jaydev Panchwagh has been my son’s gift to me! I have never made a better decision in my life!