Hey Buzz, glad you found us. When I first came here it seemed like there was no one with the ear pain like mine, but lately there have been more similar descriptions. I was diagnosed with inner ear trouble for years before I finally had enough and went to an ENT - did mri of my head and found nothing so then sent to Neuro - process of elimination resulted in the TN diagnosis. I went to 3 different doctors to hopefully get a different diagnosis, but they all agreed. There is a more specific sub-disorder that relates to our ear pain, Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia I think is the term.

My pain is sporadic and very intense when I have an episode. Usually once a month or so and lasts 4 - 8 hours. Outside of right ear and immediately surrounding area is very painful to the touch and if I move my head at all or my mouth it is excrutiating. And along with it I get the deep ice pick stabs intermittently inside the ear. The drug you are taking has helped me cut down on the frequency of the attacks - I started out taking the chewable tabs whenever I had an attack, but a year ago switched to the time release capsules and taken every day it has helped a lot. Have you tried applying heat to your ear? That helps relieve my pain more than anything when I have an attack. Some folks say it makes it worse, but works for me.

Good luck, will see you around.

Rhonda