I guess I'm having brain surgery?
I am still trying to wrap my head around it. I started having pain in my ear around Thanksgiving, thought it was congestion or maybe a sinus infection. Then it started to go down into my teeth. Alright, my teeth, I haven't been great to them and they aren't in the best condition. But I was just at the dentist towards the end of October, and he would have done anything that needed to be done then. Then it was zapping pain down my jaw and in my cheek bone. Only on the left side. Headaches are a norm for me, but these were different. This was nerve pain. I've had nerve pain for as long as I can remember anymore. From having leaking discs in my lower back at 19, to having shingles when I was 22.
So I went into the doctor. He said it sounded like a text book case of trigeminal neuralgia. But since the onset is so acute refers me to get an MRI to make sure there isn't an obvious cause like a tumor. Scheduled the MRI a week later, I sleep through it. Then the results come in.
They call me as I am driving home from work and ask if I have time to talk. I say yes, because I'm used to tests showing nothing. She tells me they found a pinched nerve that is causing my pain. They are referring me to a specialist and that will most likely be a surgery consult. I am still driving home, trying to process this, and she mentions what surgery we are looking at. Something vascular. She asks if I have questions, I say no, because I'm on the verge of tears. I get off the phone and immediately call my wife and break down.
I do what anyone would do. Start googling the next day. I'm getting what is called microvascular decompression. It means a silver dollar sized hole will be opened up in my skull behind my ear where they then separate the trigeminal nerve from the blood vessel that is pinching it by putting in a sponge. I am trying my best to be calm about this, and honestly compared to a week ago I am doing okay with it.
The trigeminal neuralgia is terrible terrible pain that is sometimes incurable. So they fact that they found out it's because of a pinched nerve is good, means it can be taken care of.
I see the neurosurgeon on January 31st to talk about what the plan is. My boots are shaking, but I am tying to be hopeful and my wife has been nothing but helpful and so supportive.
