AS,Chron's,rosacea ,etc now Trigeminal nerve pain

[peridito]

Just looking for any thoughts/advice .

Friend has collection of autoimmune issues ,recently changed from Adalimumab injections to infusions and has been on gabapentin for neuropathy in feet for about 6 weeks .
In the last 2 weeks he has now developed very bad pain down the trigeminal nerve which when at it's worst makes him take to his bed (unheard of ) .Has numbness on side of nose ,lip and tongue which is making drinking difficult .
Has seen a GP who has advised increasing the gabapentin .
He's increased from the 900mg he was taking .
I think he needs to go back to GP but he thinks it's pointless and that he'll just be told to keep increasing the gabapentin .Which of course is adding to the fatigue and exhaustion he already suffers from .

Any advice gratefully received .

Forgot to say that GP immediately had bloods taken and as no further contact has been made one assumes that giant cell arteritis has been ruled out .
Friend is mid 70s ,had had AS and Chron's for 40 odd years .

It's the humira infusions.
If you look on British National Formulary this is listed as a side effect of humira (can only spell brand name)

Thank you @thesootherfairy .

I've just read through the NICE report ,what a lot of side effects .I couldn't see mention of pain along the trigeminal nerve or numbness in mouth and tongue.

Perhaps I'm mistaken. I though peripheral nerve disorder was mentioned.
And yes massive list of side effects. I was offered it for AS but decided not to. Seemed that the cure would cause more problems than it would solve for me at least.
Hope your friend gets sorted. I would say to ring the special biologics nurse at the rheumatology dept where he is seen. Just in case. Might help

I think you may have made a wise decision.He seems to have been offered the infusion to treat his AS .This new problem with the trigeminal nerve area appears to be an extension of the neuropathy (in his feet and legs ) that he has had for some time .
So the infusions dont seem to be helping .
What's your current state of play @thesootherfairy ?

Well. Gluten free diet seems to hold off progression and symptoms. There was no inflammation visible on my last mri.

I've started using medical cannabis for pain. It's great. I recommend it.

Don't get me wrong. None of its a cure but I don't feel too bad.

I read your other thread on medical cannabis ,it was very helpful .And I do think it would be an avenue to pursue.
Has got to be better than current situation .

I have had shingles in the facial nerves sound similar. Don't know if might be that though as usually a rash- not always though.

It needs treatment with antivirals