The story of Maria from Mauritius
The unbearable pain that no one could understand:
Maria was 45 years old when she came to us ten years ago. She had been suffering from pain near her eye from 7 years. Initially she used to massage the area, and then noticed that massaging increased her pain. It used to come in short bursts, for a few seconds, like an electric-shock. She observed her pain for a few months, while her family members dismissed it as something that was not very serious.
Over a period of the next few months, the pain spread to the lower part of her eye, near her nose and cheek, and came in more frequent bursts. Unable to tolerate this any longer, she visited her family physician, where she was prescribed many painkillers. They did not help, and actually made her nauseous.
Medication for Trigeminal Neuralgia
She then visited a neurologist who prescribed Carbamazepine. She started feeling dizzy, sleepy and had loss of co-ordination. Her memory was affected. Initially though, there was pain relief, but as days passed, she needed higher doses and multiple other drugs, with increased frequency.
Her quality of life became very poor between the medication and the pain episodes. She needed to take leave from work and shut herself up in her room. This affected her career and her family life as well. She began sensing a loss of control on her life, and began feeling very depressed. At times she contemplated ending her life as well.
Search for alternative treatments for Trigeminal neuralgia
It was then that her husband researched on the internet and visited other neurologists in France and elsewhere in Europe. Some suggested that she increase her anticonvulsant dose, and others suggested she undergo nerve-destruction procedures like Radio-frequency lesioning and Gamma Knife treatment. But they were all only going to offer her temporary relief.
Journey towards Microvascular decompression surgery for TN
Further research on the net led her to our You tube channel Dr Jaydev Panchwagh. She wrote to us of her problems and after a few whatsapp conversations, she decided to come here to Pune, India. She was offered Micro Vascular Decompression (MVD) surgery as a potentially permanent treatment for her Trigeminal Neuralgia.
In this procedure, under General anaesthesia, one or more small Teflon (inert) sponge(s) is inserted between the vessel that causes compression and the Trigeminal nerve. She found this option more promising than all the others, and she decided to come to our centre.
A letter was issued to get her a medical visa from her country. She landed here in Pune, underwent surgery and woke up without any pain. She was discharged a week later, and is now grateful to be pain-free.
She says “Dr Jaydev Panchwagh has given me a second chance at life, and I am sure to grab this opportunity to make it more meaningful. God bless him. I wish I had come to him sooner, instead of suffering for 7 years in pain and misery, and spending money on more consultations”. It has now been ten years since her surgery and she is happy to continue to lead a normal life.