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Family member has trigeminal neuralgia. They hit toxic on carbamazepine and have to scale back, leaving them in excruciating pain. I believe the neurologist wants to try this new Rx. I have researched supplements and other therapies, etc. but as they say you can lead a horse to water but can’t make them drink. Pharma has provided the only relief they’ve known and they are scared to take natural things due to potential interactions with the other Rxs. 🤦♀️ Hard to watch, so I support by encouragement and research and prayer. Thank you, moody, for sharing what has worked in your case.
I haven’t heard of this, I thought regular nerve pain was bad. I can’t imagine going through this pain in your face. I’ll try to search things like: what causes it, natural remedies (herbs & essential oils), how does diet affect it, etc. I found this link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18050077/
neuralgia: Neuralgia is a type of pain caused by a nerve that’s irritated or damaged. Causes include shingles and underlying medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Treatment will vary depending on the cause. https://www.healthline.com/health/neuralgia#causes
I searched Neuralgia because “algia” sounds like it could be similar to fibromyalgia. I was diagnosed with that about thirty years ago & over the years have been diagnosed with more chronic pain conditions. Basically Fibromyalgia is a trash can disease, they don’t know what causes x,y & x symptoms so they group the many pain symptoms under one name.
Neur– is a combining form used like a prefix that literally means “nerve.” The form is also used figuratively to mean “nerves” or “nervous system.” It is often used in medical terms, especially in anatomy.
I’ll list search engines that might be more helpful than Google and other ones that have aggressive algorithms. I haven’t used all these search engines yet, just found these recently.
I’ve been eating carnivore over a year, but haven’t seen pain improvement simply because I sabotage myself and get off of the plan. I’ve studied carnivore diet benefits over a year. Many people that truly change their diet with out cheating have experienced healing from chronic pain. I’m not pushing this on anyone. Just mentioning because it might help your friend if this is a result of diet. Mainly seed oils and plants with high oxalates cause inflammation and disease. If I was affected I’d do research on this and what possible causes this condition.
It sounds like trigeminal neuralgia is caused by nerve damage. I have Peripheral neuropathy, Gabapentin helps a lot. With both of these conditions being in nerve pain family, St John’s Wort might help your friend. When I stay on St John’s wort regularly my nerve pain is non existent. The problem with this herb is it interacts with about 300 prescriptions. I got back on estrogen last year and stopped for several months. I always stop herbs if I have a surgery scheduled or anything that requires medication. Basically St John’s wort is an anti viral. If it stops my nerve pain and an itching condition that’s like hives (dermographism), it’s possible I’ve got some type of virus or some food is causing these two conditions.
This isn’t easy to research because they are suppressing information on natural healing and promoting big pharma on most search engines. I usually find helpful information on YouTube. Even though it’s owned by google it doesn’t seem to suppress natural medicine. Just consider the source, is it a house wife dabbing in herbs or a certified herbalist or aromatherapist?
Search trigeminal neuralgia shingles I searched trigeminal neuralgia hashtag on instagram and found a couple post talking about shingles virus can cause this and other conditions. It’s mentioned on several posts shingles can be dormant in your body which causes multiple chronic conditions. I haven’t researched and won’t link post that don’t have a source. I do firmly believe chronic pain is caused by environmental and food toxins.
If this were me I’d start out by going to a pain management doctor (if not already). Ask about alternative treatments that could go along with medication.
If I find anything I’ll reply here. Might be end of week before I can research. I’m praying your friend gets much needed pain relief.
Search Engines (I saw these posted on facebook and haven’t checked all of them out. I found the first link posted on one of these sites.
www.refseek.com - Academic Resource Search. More than a billion sources: encyclopedia, monographies, magazines.
www.worldcat.org - a search for the contents of 20 thousand worldwide libraries. Find out where lies the nearest rare book you need.
https://link.springer.com - access to more than 10 million scientific documents: books, articles, research protocols.
www.bioline.org.br is a library of scientific bioscience journals published in developing countries. http://repec.org - volunteers from 102 countries have collected almost 4 million publications on economics and related science.
www.science.gov is an American state search engine on 2200+ scientific sites. More than 200 million articles are indexed.
www.base-search.net is one of the most powerful researches on academic studies texts. More than 100 million scientific documents. 70% of them are free!
Oh my goodness, thank you! I’ve run into the idea that the herpes simplex virus may be in the nerve. St. John’s Wort - are you able to take that with your gabapentin? I’ll have to look up interactions. It’s my mother, and I so would love her to try something more natural if she can get a reprieve and get off the other meds, but I do understand it has to be done safely. I also think she should be tested for vitamin levels, I suspect that is a factor too. Think she was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a decade or so ago, too, and has had migraines forever. It’s surely related and progressing, in my mind. God bless you, Fren, and good luck with your issues, too.
Hi fren, you’re welcome. I’m trying to research this in more detail for you. I’ve been getting fever blisters since I was a kid, that’s from the herpes virus. There’s probably a connection between viruses like herpes (not the sexual kind), mono and chronic pain. I haven’t found much research to back up my beliefs.
About age 5 started getting fever blisters, my dad gets them also.
5th grade, age 9 or 10 got scabies.
6 months later diagnosed with dermographism. Dr said it came from scabies. In the hives family, too much release of histamine in blood. When touched (scratching or wrestling type touching) whelp up about the width of pinky finger. Whelps are hot like hives. Also have unusual pain. Stepping on a plug from an electric cord, walking across rocks & even tiny pebbles hurt.
9th grade I got sun poisoning for the first. I tan great but have to always wear spf on my nose, below nose & lips. Probably a different version of herpes.
Between 10th & 11th grade summer had all symptoms of mono but tested negative. It was bad enough for me to stay home several weeks and not go out with my friends.
fast forward to 28 years old, in very minor auto accident. My husband did two weeks of physical therapy. I had tests, doctors, chiropractor, physical therapy etc for three years and was finally diagnosed with fibromyalgia. My mom had it & I thought she was making it up. This was mid 90s and nothing was online about it. Most doctors didn’t know what it was or thought “we” were faking. I found a huge thick book and got educated. I had explain it to doctors🤦🏻♀️😟 The Dr that diagnosed me, he said accident brought it to the surface. His wife had it and he knew instantly. Some experts say it’s hereditary and others say trauma causes it. IDK, my mom and I had plenty of trauma from my alcoholic dad, verbal abuse. Maybe it was that. At this point it doesn’t matter.
Allergy doctors told me my dermographism came from a cat & dog allergy. Yet I’ve lived a few years here and there with out a pet.
I’m not completely convinced it doesn’t come from toxins in food. Most likely all chronic conditions is a result of toxins. It’s kinda odd we live daily with more toxins than ever before in history and chronic conditions are at an all time high. Lyme, Gulf War Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia; all have basically the same symptoms. Lyme disease can be treated and almost become dormant with antiviral herbs. I don’t have the details, I was researching for a friend and found a lot of info about Lyme treatment. Didn’t save it.
I started taking St. John’s wort several years ago & the dermographism stopped. I’ve taken Attarax since 5th grade (I’m almost 58). While taking St. John’s wort dermographism was dormant. Became sepsis two years ago, had to have two surgeries afterwards and I stopped St. John’s wort. That’s when I discovered it wasn’t gone just dormant. Currently I’m off again after starting new medication, Dr said I could use it. Planning to order soon. Also when I started carnivore I stopped all herbal medicine, herbal tea & supplements for a year. Wanted to see how I did with just diet. I’m gradually adding some things back.
I don’t know if there’s a reaction between St. John’s wort and Gabapentin. Last time I checked it was about 300 drugs. Link below says 600. Honestly I don’t know what’s true when it’s listed on websites that are most likely paid for by big pharma, no proof but I wouldn’t put it past them to control sites like webmd, gov & university sites. Google and other sites algorithm suppresses herbal medicine and essential oil sites that aren’t affiliated with gov & university hospital sites. I normally search on YouTube, instagram and yandex (I’ve noticed yandex search is bringing the same sites as google ow. I wonder if they have been taken over also), Instagram isn’t easy, I follow a lot of herbalists accounts so that helps. I’m not certified or formally trained in herbal medicine. I’ve researched herbs, toxins in food, body products and cleaning products since 2013. A few years later got into essential oils. I know a lot but not enough to give advice other than my own experiences. I should get an herbal medicine book. Ordered on Amazon isn’t recommended, they are changing or taking out pages of herbal medicine and essential oil education books. I have bought a couple books that were not helpful unlike what the reviews and experts advised. I prefer to research online instead of spending $$$ on books that aren’t useful. If you are interested in this maybe used books at thrift and used books stores if you are in a large area. I have never found such books in my rural area.
https://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/st-john-s-wort.html
I asked my doctor about taking St. John’s with estrogen. Thankfully she doesn’t seem to be anti natural medication. She said it probably wouldn’t make affect it. (It will cause birth control ineffective. I’m way past that stage😊)
I’d ask the doctor. Fingers crossed her doctor isn’t so closed minded. However, don’t expect a doctor to know. They aren’t trained in anything but writing RX. Don’t get training on supplements, vitamins, minerals or nutrition. If anything they get a few hours of nutrition. Which isn’t helpful because they and nutritionists are taught the food piramid and the other lies. Fiber is good & butter, beef, eggs & bacon, etc is bad.
I’d do my own research. If nothing else if it were me I’d see get on the medication for a bit and then try St. John’s. If it makes the RX stop working you will know very quickly.
Please be aware Gabapentin can affect your mind. If I take it too often I’m very forgetful. Thankfully my husband notices and tells me. I’m not 100% that’s from the RX and maybe it’s the multiple chronic conditions making me loopy. For almost 20 years I took a lot of medication just to keep my head above water. My daughter was young and it helped me be a mom instead of being in bed. I stopped almost everything a few years ago. Now if I take 1/4 tizanidine (muscle relaxer) I’m knocked out. You build up a tolerance. I can’t believe I used to function taking two pills and now 1/4 pill knocks me on my but.
I’m researching to try to find more info from your comment on (I think Sunday) about your mom. It will probably take several days. I’ve got my two year old granddaughter a couple 12 hour days. Thursday I’ll probably be recovering from that. I’m not online a lot here or anywhere. I’ve been dizzy off and on a few weeks and headaches. I’m thinking it’s from a new medication or maybe a vitamin or mineral deficiency. Hopefully after stopping that medication things will correct itself.
I can keep replying here or DM. I don’t remember how to DM🤦🏻♀️ Whatever works for you. I’m praying your mom feels better. By the way if you get the chance research nervine herbs and supplements. Mushrooms are awesome, but you have to be careful. There’s a lot of companies that might not have quality products. It’s the latest rage, there’s many less than ideal companies. Just like CBD & essential oils, mushrooms are very popular and that brings out the snake oil salesman for profits. Most supplement companies are junk, sorry you gotta research those also. Also adaptogens (Adaptogens are herbs, roots, and plant substances like mushrooms that help the body manage stress and restore balance after stressful situations, potentially enhancing physical and mental performance. They're known for strengthening the body's ability to cope with various stressors). I don’t mind sharing the sources I use for herbs and supplements. Might be good to get others suggestions as well once you decide on what to try. Just like with medicine start only one new natural med or supplement for a few months to determine if it’s helpful. This is a lot of information if you aren’t familiar. Take your time. Maybe get mom an RX that can get her stable and continue your research to determine what’s best for her to start. You didn’t mention her age or if she’s independent, not asking. Taking herbs isn’t just popping a pill once a day. Most herbs have to be taken about three times a day. I prefer herbal tinctures (made with alcohol) or herbal tincture made with glycerin. It works for me, I don’t work and am home most days. When I travel I have herbal pills in the same herb for convenient. For myself the tincture works better. Nothing wrong with taking herb pills instead.
I was on the way home from a long weekend on Sunday when I read your reply’s. Just getting around to you. Thanks for the words of blessings, that’s very kind. I try not to let life’s challenges get in my way & especially my mood. Pain sucks but you can’t let it control you. We all have to deal with something in life. I really hope your mom finds relief very soon. If she’s able water therapy is very helpful. Most hospitals have a pool and aquatic program. One of my local hospitals has one on one water therapy and a class that meets three times a week. I’ve done it in the past and it helps a lot. Massages are expensive but well worth it. Ice packs and heating pads are simple and can help a lot. If she has a lot of nerve pain lidocaine injections and patches have helped me. There’s at least three kinds of neuropathy. I have peripheral neuropathy, it’s like electrical zapps from one place to another. Thankfully it’s not as bad as in years past. Years ago I was having them in my back several times a day. My doctor advised me to mark the zapp spots and take photo. Over a month went by and I had a road map to the zapps. At an appointment she gave me lidocaine injections in those areas. It’s been about seven years and it hasn’t returned. Occasionally I get it in my leg, nothing bad.
FYI: if she is able to get a lidocaine RX insurance won’t pay unless you have had shingles or herpes. They did for years and then stopped paying. My doctor asked did I have either and didn’t want details. I said, herpes, fever blisters are herpes. They are available over the counter but if insurance pays might be cheaper depending on your coverage. Lidocaine ointment is available but patch is better coverage. I have both on hand. Hard to get a patch on some places.
Apologies if I’ve repeated myself. Just wanted to respond with a few things. Hopefully will get back in touch in a few days with some helpful information. Blessings to you, mom & family.
***Edit: Gabapentin is on the list of drugs with interactions. Again, I sometimes think this is to keep us away from a good herbal medicine. I’m not an expert at all.
There was a link in my long winded reply that had gabapentin listed. I haven’t used it very long and I’m trying to find other sources. If she’s been on it a while it wouldn’t hurt to try St. John’s wort. She would know if it makes the gabapentin not work. I’m not educated in pharmaceuticals or herbs and this is what I’d do for myself. Look at Richard Wheelen website, he’s got patient stories using certain herbs. It’s possible he has something related to her condition. Also, essential oil can help headaches. You can get a roll on (all ready pre blended). Plant Therapy, Eden’s Garden & Aromatics International & Rocky Mountain Oils are just a few that’s reputable and have quality products. I’ve used all but Rocky Mountain oils. Plant Therapy has excellent customer service and a blog. Eden’s Garden has search or blog for certain conditions. If you can’t find what you are looking for email and ask. Also look into CBD oils.