Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett lives much of his life in pain.

  • Triplett suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, also known as facial pain
  • Triplett now helping to raise money for Facial Pain Research Foundation

“They say it’s the worst pain known to man,” Triplett said. “They say it’s the suicide disease, because there are people that don’t make it. They can’t handle the pain.”

Triplett found out several years ago he suffers from trigeminal neuralgia, also known as facial pain.

“I went through a lot of tests and a lot of doctors and a lot of misdiagnoses — TMJ, mouth pain, dental issues — because all the pain is right in through here,” Triplett said.

It’s a rare neurological disorder. But Triplett recently realized there’s a national research foundation working to find a cure for it. 

On Wednesday, the mayor invited some leaders and other members of the Facial Pain Research Foundation to Sanford to brainstorm ideas on what more can be done. Everyone who gathered in Sanford suffers from facial pain or has a close family member who suffers from the disorder.

The group then held a fundraiser at the Sanford River Rats playoff game to raise money for research.

Triplett says he kept the issue private for many years. He says some of his closest friends may still not know he suffers from it.

But it’s taking a toll.

“I walked out of a meeting with a congressman because the pain is so severe, you just can’t concentrate,” Triplett said.

Years ago, Triplett gave risky surgery a shot. He hoped a doctor could give him some relief.

“I told him to start cutting, start cutting my nerves,” Triplett said.

“I want it to be numb. I want this to go away. I really can’t live like this. When you’re in that much pain, you’re willing to do really anything.”

The surgery helped but left Triplett with much of his face numb. He hopes he can help the foundation push for a cure so that others don’t have to go through what he has.

“It’s so severe, it’s not something where you can just sit there and say well maybe it will go away,” Triplett said.

The Sanford mayor is also leading a fundraiser for the The Facial Pain Research Foundation this weekend. The ride will begin at Seminole Harley-Davidson in Sanford at 10:30 a.m.