Hi everyone

I would really like to hear of anyones experiences with facial pain and MS. These last few days I have had a piercing, burning pain periodically in my jaw as far as my ear, and up into my cheekbone on my left side. I don't think that there is anything wrong dentally, but the pain does radiate into my teeth - but in several at a time upper and lower and deeply into the bone.

I will be seeing my Neuro in a couple of weeks, but I would really like to hear from anyone else who has had problems with this as well.

Thanks

Lyn

Hi, down there!

One of my first symptoms, before they/we realized it WAS a symptom of anything else, was what was diagnosed as "mild trigeminal neuralgia". I remember thinking, MILD??? Your description fits to a tee what I experienced.

The doctor first suggested dental pain. The dentist could find no cause. The doctor then decided "something neurological", probably a "mild trigeminal neuralgia", shrugged and told me I could see a neurologist if I wanted to.

You can search this site for comments about TN, and probably find some match-ups!

Hope things go well for you!

I was originally sent to a dental specialist, who deals with facial pain situations.

He diagnosed TMJD (tempomandibular joint disorder) and then trigeminal neuralgia.

A year later with picking at doctors, I was MRI'ed (facial pain was changing/not going away) and voila, Multiple Sclerosis.

Trigeminal Neuralgia can exist on it's own, independent of MS, however it can be a symptom of MS as well.

I hope you're able to find some answers for your own situation and get relief from the pain.

I am so sorry about the pain.........

A wonderful friend here at NT has helped compile some very informative info and here is a particular post she shared. It shows the main nerves in the area of what you describe.....
Seeing these diagrams helped me to understand a bit better regarding the source of some of these types of pain ....... see what you think? Maybe this would help you to communicate with your Dr, if these may be the nerves that pertain to your description?

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post662535-8.html

I'll never cease praying for the day we can all just be rid of pain.

Until then, I'm so grateful to have everyone here to 'be' with. Somehow that seems to make the pain less 'mean'....

Caring,
Rae

Sounds like TN to me, also. I hope your Doc finds just the right med/therapy for you, to help you out of your pain, Lyn.

That sound exactly like the kind of pain I had back in the early 90's I think. I didn't know whether to see a dentist, Eye-ear-nose and throat specialist, psychiatrist, family doc or who. So I did what I always do, procrastinate!!!! So when I finally saw my family doc he said it was the trigeminal neuralgia. About 5 years later when I had my first big neuro event that diagnosed my MS my neuro said that was the first sign. As some one else said you don't have to have MS to have trigeminal neuralgia. With medicine I rarely have any problems with it and if I do it is very mild. Good luck

I had a very mild case of TN once, and it was miserable! You need to see an MD or a dentist.

I hope you feel better.

I have a mild TN, more like electric snaps against my face. I also have uncontrollable tics in my left eyelid.

Botox solves both of these problems. Botox is found to be an excellent therapy for TN, and a good neuro, opthamologist or dentist can do this for you. If you have insurance it may also be covered.

I hope this information helps, nerve pain is debilitating, I'm sorry you are going through this.

Our MS clinic atUBC has compassionate doses on hand for those patient who are suffering, and need fast help, I really like this approach. I am lucky enough to have mine partially covered by insurance.

I can relate to you pain, Lyn.

I have a lot of facial, head and neck pain. Burning pain around the ear, deep in the ear, through my skull and out the other ear, down the neck, affecting my throat, jaw and tongue, causing fatigue and spasms. I also get deep pain in my eyes, pressure, and stabbing pains. I get electrical shocks across my cheeks, and numbness around my hairline, and nose and mouth. I have gotten pains deep in the jaw and above the tooth line, like you.

I spent a lot of time researching TN. After more than 2 years, and discussing with my GP, neuro, my DDS (who specializes in cranio-facial pain), another dentist specializing in cranio-facial pain. The consensus seems to be its not typical or even atypical TN as recognized. My pain is not fleeting and can last weeks, which is not the usual MO for TN. It seems my Trigeminal nerves are just badly affected by my MS.

I definitely agree, your trigeminal nerves are involved. The level, frequency, and duration of the pain helps define the problem, at least that's the way it seems to me.

I now take lyrica and baclofen. I seems to have gotten some relief--my episodes of pain no longer last weeks, often only a day or two. Don't know if that's the nature of the disease or the drugs.

Hope you feel better soon and find permanent relief.