Does nerve pain get worse without treatment?

[Michelle W]

I had surgery and eight weeks later (around the first of June) I experienced aching all the time and burning a couple times a week in my face. As the weeks went by the burning became worse and more frequent each week, until I told my surgeon "I think I am experiencing nerve pain in October." I had been complaining since June about my pain. He put me on Neurontin. I am taking 900 mg three times a day. I experienced minimal relief with that dose. I went to a neurologist a week ago and he added Keppra 500 mg twice a day. I am a little better, but I still having burning in my face all the time. The burning is just not as severe. I feel as if my pain got much worse over the months not being treated. Does anyone know if nerve pain gets worse if not treated aggressively at the beginning stages? Does nerve pain from surgery get any better? My neurologist told me that nerves repair at a millimeter a day. I think he is suggesting that my pain might get better. Any insight, suggestions or thoughts appreciated.

[Laura T.]

Originally Posted by Michelle W

I had surgery and eight weeks later (around the first of June) I experienced aching all the time and burning a couple times a week in my face. As the weeks went by the burning became worse and more frequent each week, until I told my surgeon "I think I am experiencing nerve pain in October." I had been complaining since June about my pain. He put me on Neurontin. I am taking 900 mg three times a day. I experienced minimal relief with that dose. I went to a neurologist a week ago and he added Keppra 500 mg twice a day. I am a little better, but I still having burning in my face all the time. The burning is just not as severe. I feel as if my pain got much worse over the months not being treated. Does anyone know if nerve pain gets worse if not treated aggressively at the beginning stages? Does nerve pain from surgery get any better? My neurologist told me that nerves repair at a millimeter a day. I think he is suggesting that my pain might get better. Any insight, suggestions or thoughts appreciated.

HI,
I had neck surgery. The surgery was 5 hours and followed the coratid artery. To remove this birth defect it was lengthy and invasive. I have nerve damage and the nerves have grown together in some locations causing neuromas. They had to be removed. The pain was quieted down by killing some of the nerves totally. The sensation from nerves being dead is not a nice feeling. I have been on many meds and had botox shots to relax muscles in that area.
Pain is terrible and I wish you the best of luck. I am not sure there are to many cures for nerve damage. I am also not sure it will get much better. I am into this for 3 years now.
Good luck........

[Michelle W]

Originally Posted by Laura T.

HI,
I had neck surgery. The surgery was 5 hours and followed the coratid artery. To remove this birth defect it was lengthy and invasive. I have nerve damage and the nerves have grown together in some locations causing neuromas. They had to be removed. The pain was quieted down by killing some of the nerves totally. The sensation from nerves being dead is not a nice feeling. I have been on many meds and had botox shots to relax muscles in that area.
Pain is terrible and I wish you the best of luck. I am not sure there are to many cures for nerve damage. I am also not sure it will get much better. I am into this for 3 years now.
Good luck........

Thank you for responding to my question. I really had wondered about it for quite some time, but I havent been back to the neurologist to ask any questions since he prescribed the medications. I doubt I could have my nerves killed since they are in my face. Isn't this one of the most horriable afflections you can imagine? I remember being right out of LPN school and working for a doctor, I had this nice lady patient come into the office. She told me of nerve damage/burning in her face she was experiencing as a result of a root canal. I remember thinking that she is was in one of the most awful situations I had ever heard of, because she told me they could do nothing for her. I guess this was before Neurontin and other medications.

I am sorry to hear you underwent such an awful surgery for a birth defect. I hope your situation eases with time and gets better. I agree about relief since it has been almost one year for me. My surgeon would not give me a percentage guess on if it would get better or not for me. I feel so bad for all of us undergoing these similar situations. Have you found any medications or treatment especially helpful?

Thank you for responding, because your response is the only one I have received.

[Ann123]

Michelle, I also suffer from facial nerve pain from a nerve damaged during dental work. I am not sure if the nerves heal but my neurologist also makes comments that allude to the nerve healing someday but that it takes a long time. He is also heavily into the theory that the nerves are misfiring and that can be stopped with the use of certain drugs that affect our neurotransmitters. Neurontin is his favorite for that. He believes serotonin helps Neurontin do its job. Serotonin is produced while sleeping. He has added low dosages of serotonin producing medications to the Neurontin - Lorazapan at night and Lexapro in the morning ... I hate to take them but am giving this a try. I have gotten over my resistance to meds and have put myself into the hands of the medical professionals at this point. I am to early into the new drugs to know if it helps but will keep you posted. Good luck to you.

[Michelle W]

Thanks for responding Ann123 to my post. I am sorry you are experiencing pain from dental surgery. I wondered what kind of procedure you had done? I underwent bilateral arthroplasty for TMJD. I clench/grind my teeth at night. I had stretched out the ligament attached to the articular disc. I had to have the ligament cut and pinned in place. An incision was made right in the front crease of my ear. It is visible to me, because I know there was no crease in that area but invisible to others. Sorry to go on about my ordeal. I have been thinking about trying Lexypro. My neurologist offered to take it. I was afraid of the serotonin adrenalin affect. I thought maybe it might make me grind my teeth at night. It is a listed side effect. Although, side effects are suppose to be rare with this medication. It is suppose to be one of cleanest medications now. Please do keep me posted.

Thanks for your input!
Sincerely,
Michelle