In general, it is possible to TN to change in distribution over time. I would suggest getting reevaluated by your neurologist. If medical therapy fails, there are very effective surgical therapies! Good luck!
In all probability, you are suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. For medical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia several types of drugs are tried either singly or in combination. These are anti-epilepsy drugs such as valproate, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, gabapentin, and pregabalin; muscle relaxants such as clonazepam and baclofen; tricyclic antidepressants such as carbamazepine, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline.
After reviewing the medications I was already taking (to avoid any conflicts) she recommended Lamotrigine for my intense anxiety. I am VERY familiar with off-label drug uses, but I can find no information re: the use of this drug for my situation. It is a drug used for bi-polar disorder and seizures. I thought that Atavan would be the drug of choice, and after reading more about Lamotrigine, I have become actually quite shocked about this recommendation.
In 1974 similar pain started on the left side of face the surgeon diognised as trigeminal neuralgia in the 2nd branch. since than I am on tegretol and gabapentin, both this medicine do control attack, with the help of remmissions i have managed to avoid surgery, as this would lead to my entire face being numb for ever.
The pain has returned just last week, after 2 years remission. I started on tegretol 200mg 3 times a day and neurontin 300mg twice a day.
I have jabbing trigeminal neuralgia, roaring tinnitus, and jabbing pain all on left side of head....at times ..yet at most time I have just throbbing.
I take opiates which I am trying to get off of because I hate side effects..don't we all..All I need is a med that makes things worse..
.I have non diabetic peripheral neuropathies..no tingling.....jabbing, burning pains lingering throbbing type pains..
I take lyrica...ssri's have been no help..
Sharp pain in the side of face could be due to injury to a nerve or pinched nerve, an infection or a trauma. Hence it could be Trigeminal neuralgia, abscess in tooth, exposed root canal, internal ear infection, maxillary sinusitis, TMJ, migraine, herpes (recurrent) without rash or fibromyalgia localized to face.
If the pain is due to TMJ, you will find it linked to either opening your mouth wide or to chewing. Also, touching the swelling on the joint aggravates the pain.
For those of you with trigeminal neuralgia, would you mind me asking you what it feels like? I have been assuming, for a while, that what I have in my face is bilateral trigeminal neurlagia. But, perhaps I'm wrong.
Sounds like Trigeminal Neuralgia Type 1 or Atypical. There is help for this! Same needs used for seizures help condition and pain attacks. Tegretol is one but many more. Thank you
Neurologist treats TN. Studies happening now.
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) was first used to treat trigeminal neuralgia in the 1990s. Because of its success in treating that painful condition (which is very difficult to treat), it was then used to treat all kinds of neuropathic pain.
While it may be useful, there are more modern medications that may help if you have a neuropathic pain problem -- for instance, Neurontin (gabapentin) and Lyrica (pregabalin).
What I really meant was some medications such as tegretol, anticonvulsants,for example,neuron tin are very promising to treat trigeminal neuralgia. In addition, surgical procedure known as microvascular decompression is promising and yields long term therapeutic effect. you do need to see a neurologist to be fully informed of all available treatment options.
Dear,
Trigeminal neuralgia is a neuropathic disorder of the trigeminal nerve that causes episodes of intense pain in the eyes, lips,
There are some things that you can do to minimize the frequency and intensity of TN attacks:
Apply ice packs or any readily available source of cold to the area of pain. Cold often numbs the area and will reduce the pain.[citation needed]
Get adequate rest in normal rest cycles.
Manage your stress well and keep stress levels low.
Hi, Thank you for your question. This may be Trigeminal neuralgia as you have typical one sided facial pain extending to temple and eye( ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve may be involved) and sore gums of the teeth of same side (maxillary branch of 5th nerve). Trigeminal neuralgia may have a triggering factor like recent history of tooth extraction, touch, cold breeze or hot sensation etc. which you need to evaluate and avoid.
Shortly after I noticed I started getting ridiculous zapping pain on the RIGHT side of my face, referred to a neurologist, got some blood work and MRI. I was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia and started treating with gabapentin. Meds were awful and couldn’t function at all on them, headaches, blurry vision and incredible fatigue. Tried lyrica, carbamazepine, they were the same...
After several different doctors, I was told that I had trigeminal neuralgia as well as a deviated septum. I eventually had laser surgery for the trigeminal neuralgia, but the a facial pain continues. The nerve pain has subsided, but I continue to have facial pain on my left side. The pain seems to get worse if I lean my head to that side. This occurred a few years ago, and after several months of taking seizure medication and lortab, I was not getting any better.
Your symptoms do not exactly match the clinical picture of trigeminal neuralgia but you should continue with the treatment and do notgo in for complicated details.The treatment consists of medicines, surgery, and complementary approaches.
For more information refer http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/detail_trigeminal_neuralgia.
As for me, my trigeminal neuralgia is always one sided, and "usually" extreme pain is with it. Sometimes it is just "regular" pain, other times it is severe, but it is always painful for me.
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) rarely occurs with sinusitis but it has been described. The persistent congestion and your severe headache suggest that, despite the "clear" sinus x-rays you may have sinusitis or an infection of the sinus that has extended beyond the sinus walls.
That you are still ill suggests a possible infectious complication. You would do well to consult with an ENT specialist and have a CT scan of your sinuses and the adjacent areas.
Good luck.
Hi,
The common causes of shooting pains on right side of head are trigeminal neuralgia, temporal arteritis, tension headaches etc.In trigeminal neuralgia there are successive bouts of face pain. This pain occurs when a blood vessel compresses the trigeminal nerve as it leaves the brain stem. Temporal arteritis is caused due to inflammation of medium and large sized arteries bringing blood to the head.
Hi, Thank you for your question. Trigeminal neuralgia may be presented with typical one sided facial pain extending to temple and eye( ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve may be involved) and sore gums of the teeth of same side (maxillary branch of 5th nerve). Trigeminal neuralgia may have a triggering factor like recent history of tooth extraction, touch, cold breeze or hot sensation etc. which you need to evaluate and avoid.
Thank you for your question. Trigeminal neuralgia may have a triggering factor like recent history of tooth extraction, touch, cold breeze or hot sensation etc which you need to evaluate and avoid, , but hardly varies with age. Drug of choice for trigeminal neuralgia is carbamazepine but as the dose may vary according to severity therefore I would advise an oral medicine specialist consultation or at least a physician to confirm this diagnosis and get you treated accordingly. Take care.
I know someone who was recently diagnosed with TN and also has a lot of pain. It is a difficult condition.
There is a forum on medhelp for Trigeminal Neuralgia where you can find support and hear others' stories. Just click on Forums in the blue menu bar up top, and scroll down to the Ts.
I hope she finds relief soon!
Sounds like trigeminal neuralgia type 2 (which is the constant aching, burning, stabbing pain of somewhat lower intensity than type 1). The underlying cause of any type of neuralgia is damage to a nerve. Causes include shingles, syphilis, MS, Lyme Disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, pressure or injury to nerves due to a slipped discs or tumour to name a few.
One of the causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia could be tumors. The Trigeminal nerve and its branches touches many parts of the face including the sinuses. (Google Gray's Anatomy (bartleby.com) for good diagrams of where the Trigeminal Nerve is).
I personally have not heard that TN loosens teeth -- although pain in the teeth and gums (because of all the areas the nerve touches) is common.
Hello,
In your case, I think that it can be trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is very painful swelling (inflammation) of the nerve (trigeminal nerve) that delivers feeling to the face and "surface" of the eye. Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe, short-lasting (only a few seconds) facial pain on the side of the affected nerve even by slight touch. Mostly affects elderly females. May be caused in multiple sclerosis also.
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