Cyberknife for the Monster in My Face

The exasperating saga of my Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) continues.  Trigeminal Neuralgia is called "The Suicide Disease"  because the intensity of pain has caused some people to commit suicide or at least consider it.

The microvascular decompression surgery I had at the University of Virginia on September 28, 2016 seemed helpful at first but my pain returned full blast.

I was hospitalized twice during the winter of 2017 in Florida due to unbearable pain.

In April, 2017, I had the cyberknife treatment, which is a radiation procedure.  First I went to have a mask made that fit my face. The day of the procedure, I laid down on a cot like for an MRI. 

They put my mask precisely over my face and NAILED IT DOWN to the cot!!  This is NOT for anyone with claustrophobia!!  I will admit that I had to scold myself several times in order to remain calm. I was in the tube for an hour and twenty minutes.

I am sad to report that it didn’t help so I continued with various combinations of medications.  The side effects are numerous but at least I could function.

It feels like an electrical wire being rammed into my face ......Over and over and over.......

It feels like my cheek is pierced with a knife that is connected to an electrical outlet.

(click below to enlarge)