Hello Beverley. Welcome you to NeuroTalk, but I'm so sorry that it was this extremely painful condition that brought you to us.

I'm sorry that I'm unable to help you with insurance or where to get treatment because I live in a different country, but I do think it's a neurologist you should be seeing.

I have done some reading in the past about Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, as I communicate (via the internet) with an MS sufferer who has this condition, so below I've given you a bit more information that I hope will help you understand it a bit more.

Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia is one of the rarer symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis and is similar to Trigeminal Neuralgia. GN affects one side of the neck and is secondary to 9th cranial nerve compression by arteries and veins ..... where the nerve exits the pons and brainstem, in the brain.

Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is different to trigeminal neuralgia (which causes similar pain) and the differences are well described here : http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec06/ch096/ch096h.html

Initial treatment is usually by steroids (cortisone), either orally or by infusion, and then controlled by one of the anti-epileptic medications with the aim of blocking the messages getting to and from that cranial nerve.

Some people do get relief from acupuncture and certainly worth trying. I did a quick search for you and found quite a lot about GN and acupunture on the internet. http://www.google.com.au/search?clie...=Google+Search

I also did a search for all the posts that have been made about Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia here on NeuroTalk. Have a look through them. Hopefully you'll find something there to help.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/se...geal+neuralgia

I hope your pain is controlled quickly as I can well imagine the agony you must be in. Also try to keep up the fluids Beverley, although I daresay you're probably too frightened to eat in fear of starting the pain off again.

I hope some of that has been helpful. I also hope you get the info that you need regarding insurance.
Please let us know how you get on.