Does anybody here get neuralgia?

[zanne]

I'm not talking about Trigeminal Neuralgia; the pain isn't in my face, it's in my head. It only happens about twice a year but when it does, I'm in hell. It's always the same little spot on my head, too. It feels like I'm being stung by a bee every 30 seconds or so. It lasts for days, but I never go to the ER the first or second day, because I don't want to be on painkillers that long. By the time I get something for it, the pain has me so confused and foggy I can't drive.
Anybody else get this affliction from hell?

[Chalco]

1. I don't know exactly what you have but,

I had shingles in my head and face last year and acupuncture did the trick. The pain I was in was unbelievable. Another person I know who also broke his neck said the pain from the shingles was worse than breaking his neck!

Anyway, painkillers made me doze off, acupuncture cured the neural pathways.

[Warpy]

2. Some people have it for years

and the treatment is a nerve block, something that leaves them with facial deformity.

I doubt anyone wants to do this in your case. Your best bet is to get those painkillers as soon as it happens, really. The sooner you get the pain under control, the less painkiller you're likely to need. The way people run into trouble with painkillers is when they're so afraid of the pain that they take the drugs when they're pain free just in case it happens again.

Talk to your doc about your reluctance to take pain meds early, run the concerns you have by him, see what he says.

(I know what you mean about not wanting to stay on them, though. With me, the first day is "WHEE!" the second day is "Well, I gotta take em," and the third day I never want to see them again. I've been known to try to tough it out on Tylenol after the third day, get shocky and fall flat on my face.)

[I_Make_Mistakes]

3. I have Radiculopathy and believe it or not Elavil has alleviated

the pain more than anything else. Elavil is a mood enhancer (not very strong though) and my test from the ENG (EMG) can't remember showed a strong deviation from normal. I also, don't take Elavil other than when needed. It's worth a try!