Emily Morton, a 28-year-old Australian woman, has been battling relentless pain for nearly three years due to a rare and excruciating condition known as atypical trigeminal neuralgia. Often referred to as “suicide disease,” this condition causes severe pain that can feel unbearable.
The onset of relentless pain
In 2022, Emily was at a high point in her life—newly married and excited about starting a family. However, everything changed when she began experiencing a persistent, nagging pain in her teeth. Despite numerous visits to the dentist, no issues were found. Within days, the pain escalated, spreading across her face and becoming unbearable.
Describing her condition, Emily told news.com.au, “Imagine having a dentist drill into every single one of your teeth 24/7, and there is nothing you can do to stop the pain.” She claimed that anything touching her face started to cause electric shocks to travel across both sides of her face.
Her symptoms included electric shocks shooting through both sides of her face, triggered by even the slightest touch. Smiling, eating, or even speaking became sources of agony.
Diagnosis: A rare and debilitating condition
After extensive brain scans and blood tests, Emily was diagnosed with atypical trigeminal neuralgia, a rare variant of the already debilitating trigeminal neuralgia. The condition affects the trigeminal nerve, which transmits sensory signals from the face to the brain, causing extreme pain with minimal stimuli. Unlike the typical form, which usually affects one side of the face, Emily’s case involves both sides, amplifying her suffering.
Doctors have labeled trigeminal neuralgia as the “most painful condition known to medicine,” and Emily’s variant is particularly rare.
Searching for relief
Emily’s life has been turned upside down by the condition. Unable to work, she and her husband, Andy, moved in with her mother as they struggled with mounting medical expenses. Emily has spent over $15,000 on treatments in Australia and alternative therapies overseas, all without success.
“It has taken everything from me. My entire life is on hold while I search for something to give me relief. I just take it day by day and hold on to hope,” she said.
A new glimmer of hope
Emily may finally have a chance at relief through a groundbreaking treatment now available in Australia: MRI Guided Focused Ultrasound. This non-invasive procedure uses focused ultrasound waves to target the brain’s thalamus, disrupting the pain signals.
Doctors have given Emily a 50/50 chance of finding relief through this treatment—a much-needed ray of hope in her battle against this debilitating condition.
As Emily continues her search for relief, her story sheds light on the devastating impact of atypical trigeminal neuralgia and the importance of continued research and innovation in treating rare and painful conditions.
