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.
By ATN -- do you mean Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia? If so, there are 5 different types of surgery. There are also medications -- mostly anti-seizure medications normally used for epilepsy -- that are used to control the pain. Problem with the drugs is, they can cause other problems (kidney/liver) and regular blood tests are necessary.
A facial pain specialist is the best doctor to seek out or a neurologist.
Trigeminal neuralgia is quite uncommon in people with paranasal sinusitis. Despite what is commonly believed, facial pain is unlikely to be caused by sinus disease, especially in the absence of any nasal symptoms or signs. Yet the history of long standing relief of pain following antibiotic therapy prescribed by the ENT for sinusitis must not be ignored.
I've only had trigeminal neuralgia since Dec 17, 2008 and am 47 years old. I was told I'm "fairly young" for this disease, but I also have multiple sclerosis, so that may have been a contributing factor. Your son is much younger than me and that may be a big factor in what a doctor may advise.
My advice is that your son find a doctor who specializes in TN, preferably at a teaching hospital in the nearest big city.
I may have trigeminal neuralgia in the mandibular branch. Severe pain in the lower gum area but it is on both sides which has my PC doctor, my neurolgist, my pain management dr, my neurosurgeon and my accupuncturist all baffled. Meanwhile, I am on Lyrica, which is becoming ineffective, Vicodin, which does not help much, and Ambien to knock me out at night to get some sleep. Is anyone out there who has experienced such a problem that can head me in the right direction? I am losing hope.
I am a 51 year old woman suffering from vagal glossopharyngeaal neuralgia (its much like Trigeminal Neuralgia but much less common. The pain comes from irritation of the 9th and 10th cranial nerves) My pain has become nearly constant and spikes whenever I am talking, eating, riding in a car. Neurotin, Tegratal, and Lyrica do not help. I have seen four neurosurgeons. The concensus seems to be that I need skull base surgery to cut the 9th nerve and a couple strands of the 10th.
Hello.
For a few months my trigeminal nerve has been irritated. It's the first and second branch. I experience the electrical shock (more like a tickle) that I've experienced with Trigeminal Neuralgia but there's no pain. It seems to happen often when my head is tilted forward/down and that makes me wonder if it could be an issue with my cervical spine. I really don't have any unusual discomfort in my neck. I don't have headaches or sinus pressure or anything.
However, I had the same symptoms you were having and was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia. Its where one or more of the three main nerves in your face cause nerve pain, or neuralgia. The first nerve lays across the eyebrows, the second lays across your cheek bones and the third nerve lays across the chin. My doctor put me on Lyrica and Klonopin and it seems to help a little, although the pain does intensify and the pain medication does not work for it since it is nerve pain.
I went to an endodontists who drilled into a tooth that felt to be most likely cause of the pain. He found infection and started a root canal but insisted that I had trigeminal neuralgia and would not finish the root canal until I took Tegretol. My internists and I did not think my symptoms consistent with trigeminal neuralgia. I went to another endodontists who finished the root canal I think finding another root of the tooth. He did not feel I had trigeminal neuralgia.
i have a reaserch on mangment of trigeminal neuralgia , but i cann't know until now which the best medical or surgical treatment and i couldn't found which have high rate of recurrance.
I have had symptons from trigeminal neuralgia for the past 5 years. Last April ina a 2 week period, every day the pain escalated. I lost 9 pounds. I am on carbomazapan, which stopped the lighteninglike pains from shooting down my face, but when I touch near my right eyebrow or put moisturizer and or makeup on and even brush my hair it is still painful. I am constantly pressing on my nose to try to relieve the pain.
The Facial Pain Association (formerly The Trigeminal Neuralgia Association (TNA)) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit voluntary health organization, serving patients worldwide who suffer from neuropathic face pain, including TN, their families, and the physicians, dentists and healthcare providers who treat them.TNA receives no Federal or State monies. Our primary sources of funding are contributions, membership fees and revenue from the sale of our books."
I find it very helpful.
Did you ever get a reply? 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.
I have been to see so many specialists over the years and the closest i hav gotten to a diagnosis is possible atypical neuralgia. Now I have noticed a small pea sized lump on my jaw just in front of my earlobe. It is hard and semimoveable when i do move it it makes my eye twitch or sends a shock to my ear. is it possible that is what is causing my pain as I have this lump on both sides of my face.
Thanks.
Traumatic trigeminal neuropathy is generally not associated with trigeminal neuralgia. However, both entities may be responsive to pharmacologic intervention. Seeing a neurologist or orofacial pain specialist misadvised.
Does anyone out there have neuralgia pain along with their TMJ or TMD pain??? I've been tested for trigeminal neuralgia several times and they are telling me I don't have it, or facial neuralgia, yet it fits the description according to the pain I am having. My pain is extreme, and I am taking various meds that are making me sick... Wondering if anyone else is in this position..
seekandfind46..
From my research, sometimes MRIs don't show the nerve compressions. Was it a "thin-slice" MRI? Was it T-3 magnets? Both of these items help make the MRI more accurate.
The drugs are annoying -- there are many different types -- some have less side effects than others. There are also things you can do to counteract the nausea and fatigue.
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