Thanks so much to all of you for the kind welcome. I had some log in problems and just now got back in. I am at work, so will need to check back for any replies later. New at this posting thing, so bear with me.

OK - 6 or 7 years ago I started having "ear aches". They were very sporadic and seemed to come out of nowhere. Usually up to 3-4 months apart. Family and primary care doc kept telling me you have inner ear trouble, infection, etc, etc GO TO AN EAR DOCTOR!! After one particularly painful episode this past March I decided to go see what they had to say. Went to ENT and had all tests ran - two MRI's on my head. Called me after the first one and said absolutely nothing found wrong with my ears, sinuses, or anything that would cause ear pain. However, there was a spot on my pituatary gland and they wanted me to get another more detailed MRI. A little panicked I went the next day and it came back ok - at closer look they found nothing. So ..... the ENT then sent me to a neurologist. He spent maybe 10 minutes and did a few reflex tests and said have you ever heard of trigeminal neuralgia? Of course I said No, and he responds with "go home and look it up" (I swear I almost believe he chuckled). Needless to say when I read about it I was shocked and horrified at the sound of it all. I called my highschool friend who is now a nurse practitioner and she asked all the same questions and agreed with him. Not liking the diagnosis so far I made appt with doctor at Vanderbilt here in Nashville. After a very detailed and thorough exam with a young doctor who just happened to be in a wheel chair with an apparent neurological affliction of his own. I was very pleased with him and have much confidence in him. Sadly, he agreed with the diagnosis as well.

But here is why I struggle with admitting I have TN: My pain is very much centered in my right ear. During these episodes the pain is constant, the ear is hot and very painful to the touch on the outside. This pain doesn’t radiate past the immediate area of my ear, but if I turn my head to the left it pulls on the ear causing greater pain. It hurts to open my mouth, and it is the most painful if I try to smile. I am thankful that I do not have to talk to people all day at my job. Oh, and during all this time, there are intermittent “ice pick” stabs deep inside the ear. I have never had anything similar to electrical jolts or any description that I have read so far. They do tend to come on in the morning while getting ready for work (with teeth brushing and applying makeup I know can trigger an attack). Now, they have gotten gradually more frequent, and last much longer than in the beginning. Heat pad always makes it feel better. Doc gave me generic tegretol to try only when I have an episode since mine are so sporadic at shis point. I had an attack last Tuesday and had to work all day, but when I got home I took my first one and lay down with the heat pad on my ear and in about an hour it started to ease up. Now, not sure if it was the heat or the meds?

So – that’s my story. Sorry to be so lengthy – but felt it was necessary. Should I prepare for the worst, and consider this to be pre-trigeminal pain? Oh, the doc also mentioned “atypical TN” which I would agree sounds a little more accurate.

THANKS AGAIN ALL, EAGER TO HEAR FROM YOU. I WILL CHECK BACK LATER.!