Major Pain

How do you handle pain?

I am going on day 7 of a major headache. Yesterday I visited the doctor, wondering if I had an ear infection. The pain has been located only on the left side of my face, usually centering in my temple, but often radiating under my eye, or down to my jaw. I frequently have a stabbing or pulsing pain. My sleep is often interrupted, today at one point it felt like someone was jabbing my ear with an ice pick. Advil is my friend. The doctor said I have a virus attacking my trigeminal nerve, ( I will try to explain this as best I can, I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on t.v.) there is one trigeminal nerve on each side of your face. The nerve branches into 3 nerves near your ear and one part goes to your head, one is under your eye towards your nose the other runs down by your jaw.

My mother-in-law suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia, constant pain, which would intensify when she was outside on a cold windy day. She has had lots of sympathy for me, and is worried it will develop into what she had. She finally underwent surgery to numb the nerve. I now have more empathy for her than I did when she was in pain.

I feel like a wimp. I don't like to take medication, I've had 4 babies without drugs, even endured back labor, but this is kicking my butt. I haven't slept well in a week, a few times I have almost cried. Waiting for the Advil to kick in almost kills me. I think I am Dr. Jeckle/Mr. Hyde. Once the Advil starts to work, I almost feel normal, but occasionally I'll have times when the pain is stronger than the medicine.

I am determined to defeat this. Tomorrow I will not go back to bed after the kids leave for school. I will stay up and go jogging, maybe with the pain in my face, I won't notice the pain I feel when I jog. I will also be kinder to my kids, less grouchy. I will smile.

To all those who suffer from chronic pain, you have my fullest sympathy and support.
Heather