The ordeal started about three years ago when I had a tooth capped. The tooth is the first molar on the lower right side. It first started as an annoying feeling that made me feel as though something was always caught in my teeth. My teeth in that area also felt "loose" and still do. These annoyances gradually evolved into pain over a few months. For the past two years I have had chronic, consistent pain in the area.
I have now been two my dentist about six times concerning this and he has found nothing. I have had the cap removed which did nothing. I have seen the periodontist once and the route canal doctor several times and am still seeing him. I have been to the Dent neurological institute in Buffalo who said that it is not Tic-Do Laru and possibly not a nerve issue. I went to another neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic who also believes in is not nerve based. This was mainly because there is sensitivity in the gums near the site where the cap was done. I have also been to the facial pain clinic at the University of Buffalo, in the dental school, who prescribed Capsaicin applied with mold for several hours a day. I have seen a compounding pharmacist who prescribed and cream that provided little relief from the pain. Acupuncture provided very little relief from the pain. The cap was removed and a temporary put on with no help. I am intolerant of carbamazepine.
I also saw a pain management specialist at the Cleveland Clinic who tried a nerve block that had no effect. Lyrica helps some with the pain but causes tremendous weight gain. I was then referred to the dental practice in Cleveland Clinic. She found what she thought was a dead nerve in my lower front teeth and an infection in the area that may have spread near the site of the original cap. I had a route canal done on the tooth about 5 weeks ago and have two courses of anti biotic. This has not helped. In fact the pain has spread. It usually is in the area from the original site toward the chin. I can now feel some pain in the left side also. The pain almost always intensifies after eating.
A couple of other things: I almost always have a bad taste in my mouth and I grab at my chin allot.
SCIENTIAL.NET
　
Next I saw a dentist who specializes in oral facial pain who thinks it is a severe form of TMJ. I had $2500 mouth guard made and was trained to relax my jaw. This didn't seem to help at all. We tried Prednisone for two weeks which had no effect. He also put me on Nortriptyline (tri-cyclic antidepressant) for about a month with no effect. I use a "bed buddy" rice filled bag once or twice a day heated up in the microwave. This helps some. I have also noticed that my speech seems to be effected (slightly slurred).
The pain is still constant. I have also had several headaches.

What a 3-yr ordeal you've been through. It always amazes me what a simple thing, like capping a tooth, can lead to such misery & confusion.

Since this started as a dental issue, how about starting there? http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum89.html

Start a thread there & repost this--or maybe one of the administrators will come along & move it for you. Read the posts also in case something there triggers a connection for you. Folks there may suggest other directions for you to make queries, but I think this is a place to start.

Occipital Neuralgia and other Cranial Neuralgias Forum. There you'll find discussion of Occipital Neuralgia, Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia, Nervus Intermedius (or Geniculate Neuralgia), and Vegal and Superior Laryngeal Neuralgia. http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum105.html

Here's the link to the Trigeminal Neuralgia Forum: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum26.html

I can only imagine the frustration you must feel. I've been trying to get something diagnosed too for a while unsuccessively, & if you're like me it occasionally tips over into outright fear...especially around 3 a.m. This is a good place for information, but also a wonderful place for finding support & help through the dark hours when you think there just isn't an answer to be had for anything .

Come back, Linda. Keep us up on treatment. Ask questions, get some virtual hugs, rant when you need too...we're here for whatever we can do to support you in this.

Take care.

Oh My god, what you have endured, well no one should have to. You have been given the right forums to go to . I hope that someday, someone gives you whatever medication you need to be on so you can be pain free.

I really feel for you.



Melody

Hello and welcome to NeuroTalk. Happy to see you have come to be with us. Just let us know if we can be of any help.

There are great number and caring fellow members here to assist you. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Darlene