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Old 02-18-2008, 12:01 AM
patten patten is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 5
15 yr Member
patten patten is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 5
15 yr Member
Default Confused do I go on meds, see an Oral surgeon or a neurologist?

I am new here and I don't know if I even have TN.

In Sept last year I had an operation on my elbow (irrelevant?) Anyway afterwards noticed my right 1st molar was becoming increasingly sensitive to hot and cold foods.

Went to my dentist he poked and prodded and Xrayed and could find nothing wrong. While poking with ice though at one point he created a very sharp and prolonged pain response. But in retesting the same area no response at all. He suggested in could be sinusitis.

Got 2 scripts of antibiotics from my GP. Towards the end of the 2nd script the pain disappeared. Good must have been sinusitis.

Painfree for 4 months apart from occasional sensitivity to hot/cold food.

Then once again increasing pain.

Then last week I had a spoon of ice cream and I have never know such excruciating pain, all my teeth on the top on the right, all the teeth on the bottom on the right, along my right cheek and across to the ear. The pain seemed to lessen slightly momentarily then increase hugely again over a period of probably 10 minutes. Then settled into an aching pain in the top teeth. Over the next few days nearly every time I ate or drank anything the same excruciating pain but not for as long. Mind you I was not eating or drinking very much or very often LOL. In between times I felt fine, no pain, did not feel sick etc. Aoart from one episode whilst washing my hair and another when riding my horse, and two other not doing anything, the pain only appeared on eating or drinking.

My GP suggested it may be TN, although he put me on antibiotics in case just sinusitus again and I had a CT scan done on Friday. I get the results tomorrow.

He suggested if sinusitus was ruled out I should go on Tegretol to see if it got rid of the symptoms. He readily admits he knows little about the condition.

Having read about the side effects I am reluctant to do that until I know for sure it isn't something else.

My dentist said I should see an oral surgeon who specialises in face pain before I go on meds.

GP says I should see a neurologist as well.

Anyway the urgency has decreased as the pain seems to have now settled into a light dull ache (but in the tooth in front of the tooth originally giving problems).

What would you do?

Sorry about this long post, I promise I will keep them shorter in the future. If it is TN I am glad I have found this site as I think would need it.
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