Michael E. Foster, D.D.S.
Foster Family Dentistry
5704 Hwy. 290 West
Austin, TX 78735
512-782-8002 http://www.fosterfamilydentistry.com/DrFoster.htm
Transcript: Input from a spouse of a patient
One of the questions recently asked is if you’re the spouse of a trigeminal neuralgia patient and I happen to be. I’m a dentist. I’m also the spouse of my wife who has trigeminal neuralgia. And so this is for friends or relatives to be aware that your loved one may have classic trigeminal neuralgia which brings them down to their knees.
Historically, I believe this disease was probably diagnosed or written up 300-400 years ago, as a most severe, excruciating pain. It’s real. It may not happen very often but when it does, it’s extremely debilitating to the patient. So it’s something not to be taken lightly.
There are other patients that have the neuropathic pain which is an on-going burning problem. They may not feel well. They may not feel good all the time. They are kind of like when you have a bad day, they have bad days all of the time so they are trying to have a good day.
Be supportive. Make sure they go see the dentist. Make sure they go see their physician. Make sure they are taking their medications.
Try to keep them from overstressing. If you are letting them do all of the work, take some of the work off of them. Tell them to go to bed and get some rest.
Tell them for sure to go see their dentist because this is a dental segment and I think that is the best thing I can offer is be supportive. It is a real disease. There’s a lot of issues that the patients have to deal with on top of the typical dental phobias that patients present with in this office.
So be supportive of your spouse.