From both perspectives—sinus and/or neuralgia—N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) may help somewhat.

nac neuralgia

nac sinusitis

Doc

[QUOTE=mrsD;1053839]Just a reminder... Nortriptyline is not
A "pain" medication like aspirin and or opiates.

It works over time in the brain in pain loop
Perception area. So taking it for an acute
situation will only sedate you (it's main side effect).

People with sinus tendencies do better
With Mucinex or Robitussin products and
decongestants like phenylephrine.

There is a new therapeutic movement in
Medicine to not use antibiotics so quickly
for sinus problems. So some doctors may
be following this protocol now.


Part of the problem is at times I'm not diagnosed as having a sinus infection, only the pain around the sinus area and eyes - so I get antibiotics.

My migraine doctor is convinced that these sinus headaches (and 99% of all "sinus" headaches) are actually migraine headaches.
Meanwhile - the migraine aspect doesn't get treated because she is convinced that the only drug that will work is nortriptyline - and I can't take it.

I have an appointment with yet another Neurologist in May - I can't accept that this is a un-diagnosable problem. My doctor friend in England thinks it's a neuralgia of some sort, brought on by the bicycle accident in 2008 .
Can't someone determine what type of neuralgia and what treatment?
The doctors i have seen seem to fall into one of two categories : 1. this really isn't that critical a situation
2. it's migraine and/or migraine-esque and HAS to be treated in that manner.

This next neurologist is going to be asked by me - is this a neuralgia and what can be done about it?

The intense "electric" like pain jolts are back. They just explode with no rhythm or reason.
All I can think of is that my body has become adjusted to flexeril.
I have had almost none of these pains since the surgery on Dec. 19th 2014.
I honestly hate going to the neurologist who I've seen for years.
I have an appointment with a new one in may - how do i describe the pain so that he listens? do I actually ask if it's trigeminal neuralgia?
I guess you have to be your own advocate - I have made detailed noted from the time this started right after the bicycle accident in July 2008. What treatments, what medications......
We'll see...

Hi,
I think you answered your own question. Be your own advocate. If you would rather see if the new neurologist comes to trigeminal neuralgia on his own then don't bring it up. You can always bring it up after he/she gives their possible diagnosis.

You have done great by writing everything down. Also, write down any questions or suggestions you may have. I believe the thread here under Jane Liz gives a list of tests and blood work for those with neuropathy. If you have not had some of those, bring a list and ask the neurologist if he can order them. I just did this again the other day. I don't insist upon my doctor doing the blood work. I ask what he thinks about doing them and he always says yes.

Good luck with your new neurologist:)

Epsom salt lotion?
 

I had been talking to a person on this thread "Mrs.?"
and she recommended using Morton Epsom salt lotion for what might be trigeminal neuralgia. I ordered it, but have a question, can a topical lotion actually go deep enough to make any effect on nerves in the brain stem?

If you are low systemically in magnesium, the body will take it to places where there is a priority. Since magnesium is used by the heart and bones, it mostly goes there.

But it is used in many (actually hundreds) of ways.

So if you get the lotion it will work two ways. Firstly it will where applied act initially by leaching thru the skin to the areas below.
It will stop cramping, and eases swelling and help the nerves immediately nearby.
2) but some will reach the blood vessels, relax them, and get into the circulation that way....and go all over. At this point, yes, it will get to the brain and then the brain stem.

But I think some of your problems are in the surface areas of your head...where those nerves are. So you could try applying it to your neck and back of neck once a day. A dollop about a quarter's diameter goes a long way on the skin.

Migraines are thought to be a spastic/contractive disorder of the blood vessel muscles and hence magnesium has always been an treatment for them, and some other types of vascular headaches.
When used by doctors, the oral is typically used. Magnesium dilates blood vessels improving blood flow.
If you Google "magnesium for migraines" you can find alot of information.

If you decide to use oral forms, I think SlowMag, one tablet twice a day is easiest to tolerate, and one tablet twice a day is about the dose to start at. SlowMag is available at WalMart and most affordable there. You have to take oral every day, and try to choose magnesium containing foods to eat.
http://www.slowmag.com/

Many magnesium supplements are OXIDE form. Do NOT use this as it is not absorbed and won't work. They are common still and people like the low price...but it is now known thru studies to only be useful as a laxative.

I've decided not to go to the new neurologist.
I went to my old guy (who never seemed to tell me anything) and either the stars were in perfect alignment or he just had more time, but he really did give me some good advice.
He thought that the 700 mg of Tegretol I'm taking is what will eventually calm these sharp pain attacks down, and the fact is, something seems to be working because after my back operation in December of 2013 I have had little if any of the pain that used to be constant.
He thinks it a trigeminal neuralgia variant caused by the bicycle accident I had in 2008.
He thought that the Morton epsom salt (magnesium)TOPICAL ON MY NECK MADE SOME SENSE, AND THAT THE SLOW MAG i'M TAKING WAS GOOD AS WELL
sorry caps....he also has me taking Melatonin at night, just a hunch on his part.
At this point I can't see getting another doctor involved - although I do have time and some wiggle room since the appointment I made with this other neurologist is in May,,,,
We'll see, but right now things feel good - and I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed a post in my regard....thank all of you!

For those of you who take Epsom salt baths. Do u also use the lotion on the same day? Not sure if you can use both together.
Hopeful

I don't think you need both forms of epsom salts... use either one or the other.

Some magnesium is absorbed from both forms... soaking and lotion. I personally think the lotion is vastly superior, as I have used the epsom salts for YEARS. The lotion works for me like a miracle.

You can even make a concentrated solution and only make compresses of it, if you don't want to soak in water, or can't because of the location. On vacation one summer I did this for my right knee, and MP pain. It worked really well. But it needs at least an hour and recharging of the cloth you use to apply it.
I kept the compress on for at least 15 minutes, and used about 6 oz of epsom salts to 1/2 gallon of warm water in a little tub/pan.
I did this outside on the dock. (we don't have running water there and hence no bathtub to soak in.) The sun exposure kept things warm for a good time period too.

Thanks Mrs. D.
I will try the compress idea but I think I'm going to use the lotion more. I was wondering if you could go out in the sun with the compress due to the salt. You answered that question.

I think I told you this before but I have rather same cat as you. His name is Sam. He show up on our porch one day.:)