CoyoKay,
Thanks for the description.

***Next question: if there is no shooting pain, could it even be TN?????

lol, Jen, I read that as CoCoKay!

well, guess that applies... I'm CooCoo for Cocoa Puffs?

the answer is YES... Atypical TN can have a slow steady ache...

Atypical TN is characterized by a unilateral, prominent constant and severe aching, boring or burning pain superimposed upon otherwise typical TN symptoms.

http://www.umanitoba.ca/cranial_nerv...ipt/types.html

believe it or not.. my sons sinus infections present like that. He has horrible pain, very sensitive to touch, movement. He cant bend over without pain. He said his head feels very heavy and painful. You cant touch anywhere from his mid cheek to forehead area... and this all from a sinus infection. His skin gets sensitive and hurts to be touched. Especially just under the eye and the inner side of the bridge of the nose. Just hoping maybe its that for you and not TM. Ive had TM.. that ice pick stabbing pain is horrendous. Its blinding to me.

Hey, Jenn, ouch! It's just no fun sometimes, huh?

Here's a link to NT's own TN forum, you should find some good folks living with it, and they'll be glad to help you in understanding more about TN:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum26.html

Donna's right, it could be a sinus infection.

my favorite thing is when I get BOTH a sinus infection, and TN at the same time.

YIKES !!

I bet it could. That location sounds very, very familiar to me (cheekbone and side of nose). I was never diagnosed with anything, but I've had a lot of electric shocks (sometimes painful, sometimes not) plus paresthesias of all sorts in various locations on my face--mostly on the left, but also on the right. So, I'm another "bilateral" person with that.

You see the boilerplate descriptions of "trigeminal neuralgia" and "atypical trigeminal neuralgia," but even if your symptoms don't exactly fit these standard descriptions, I DO NOT believe that means you don't have basically the same thing going on.

Look at the boilerplate definitions of Lhermitte's that you find on the Web. They do NOT anywhere near cover the experiences of people with Lhermitte's as seen on MS boards.

Nancy T.

Hello Jennifer,
I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I've never experienced the pain and anquish of TN, but have heard that it can be quite debilitating. Have you spoken with your PCP or Neurologist yet? I would give it 24 hours, and if it isn't much improved by then, I believe you should run it by a Dr., or be seen in an ER.

If it gets worse, or you are unable to control the pain, obviously you need to be seen even sooner. Feel better. I hope this is just something that will resolve itself on it's own accord.

All the best,
Chris

Thanks for the answers, everyone! It's now after 11 pm, and most of the pain has been gone for a while now. There is still a little "soreness" when I touch certain areas of my face (the area at the top of my cheekbone, close to my hair line), and I've noticed a tad bit of numbness in the same area. That slight numbness extends around the outside of my eye and up onto the left side of my forehead.

So, it never became unbearable nor did it turn into a shooting type pain. (Don't get me wrong....it HURT!!! Just not to the point of feeling like I had to call my neuro.) It was constant and prickly, with a little burning. I've got an appointment with my neuro Monday morning, so I'm going to take my notes about this with me.

Thanks again for the advice and sympathy!

hey jenn,that sux....
I have had the ice pick pain in the top of my head before.
But not really all the stuff i have said.
That had to really suck.
alyson

Hi! My neuro has an ongoing rx for Tegretol for my TN, which strikes whenever it wants.

TN stinks, MS stinks, drugs don't .

Never took drugs before, now I could be a Pharm. Rep.

Best wishes at your appt!

Oh- sometimes a warm or cool washcloth helps, not the ear though, haven't come up with anything for that .