I’m avoiding seeing my new neurologist

I had quite a bad experience with my last one. Older male, arrogant. Women’s pain is often dismissed. So I’ve got someone new a female and a newish grad, I said to my gp that was fine because her training is fresh and it can be good. My presentation is atypical. I’ve been to so many specialists neurosurgeons, rheumatologists, the list goes on. I know roughly what the next steps could be. I’ve got nerve damage in my face after having the shingles a few years ago. I just don’t like getting my hopes up and I don’t like being made to feel like a drug seeker. The surgical option was too risky. I think there are some injections that can be tried. Tomorrow I will call and make an appointment.

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Ferric67 · M

Are you saying that you’re experiencing facial nerve pain as a residue from a shingles outbreak two years ago?

Luckily for you, I have friends that are neurologists and I can ask for their opinions…if you’d like.

Notladylike ·

@Ferric67 Yeah post herpetic neuralgia along my trigeminal nerve.

Ferric67 · M

@Notladylike would you like me to discuss this with my circle?
what sort of therapies have you already tried?

Notladylike ·

@Ferric67 if it’s not an imposition I’m always open to new thoughts. I was offered surgery by a neurosurgeon but there were risks especially that the shingles would be stirred up. Surgery tends to be more successful with a typical trigeminal neuralgia presentation.
I was offered a ketamine infusion for pain, it was a week long hospital stay and I decided against that.
I’ve tried all the drug therapies available with too many side effects as I don’t want to take something every day. Rarely I’ll get some polexia for pain relief maybe once a year.
I’ve done the whole is it dental, X-rays, MRI etc etc.
I tried medicinal cannabis but it impacted my mental health.
Acupuncture has been somewhat successful, as well as lidocaine patches and ice packs.
The next step I think will be Botox or another type of injection. Sorry that’s long but it’s been a few years of trying different things. The pain it’s usually isn’t as bad as it was that first year but it’s about a 5 each day all day. I mostly just try and distract myself.