Yesterday I was sitting at my desk when I felt a lightning rod pain by my left ear. I was certain that something is very wrong. I have PN,but I have never had such a high frequency pain. I was sore for a half an hour afterwards.

Then this morning on my way to work I felt it again. I was afraid to switch lanes as I was fearful of moving my neck. I can feel it much more on the left,though there is also tingling on the right. I can feel it very agrivated and ready to burst into a lightning rod again.

I have PN, and it has been in my face and head, but never like this before. I can only assume this is TN?

Is this common with PN, why did it just come on now? Anyone else with this level 10 shooting face pain?

I have never had anything like this, but I have had other wierd things. I am sorry. It is very frustrating to have things like this happen that we cannot readily explain. It is hard to talk to doctors about them also. I hope this just goes away and never bothers you aggain.

I am hoping that it will go away too. If this continues this will probably be the straw that broke the camels back, and gets me put on pain meds. I cannot even imagine this happening all the time. I can feel that it is very irritated for some reason.

I am so sorry to hear this Aussie99! This PN thing sounds like it is constantly advancing and changing - not a nice prospect.

Dear Aussie:

Lightning like pains could be trigeminal neuralgia. See neurologist. If Tegretol stops such pains, this is TN but I don't know if this will be tried with you at this time. I have TN but had a Balloon Compression surgery for it. Took away the terrible pains but left me with "dysesthesia" which is 24 hour a day burning, itching, tickling, etc. Had this for 6 years now. Very distracting to say the least. All day, all night on right side of face and scalp.

I read the PN forum because have been wondering if I have that, but don't think so now after reading for a long time. No burning in feet, legs, etc. Doesn't sound like the PN you all describe.

I hope you don't have TN. It is probably worse than PN. Keep us posted.

Shirley H.

Apparently through a series of questions and ofcourse feeling around my face, the GP beleives I have TMJ,and not TN.

I don't know alot about TMJ still researching now, but it's a problem that seems to be associated with the myriad of other problems I seem to present with MCS,Fibro, etc..

This is yet another painful condition,and worst of all it's in my Face! Does anyone else have TMJ that I can communicate with?

Thank you

Hi Hon:

Meet your new best friend. I've had TMJ for years. Started with my grinding my teeth since I'm a baby. My aunt once said "Oh my god, the noise that comes out of your mouth, when you sleep at night". Of course I had no idea what the heck she was talking about.

I can't open my mouth too wide. I never know when it's going to "hit me".

I can completely forget it, I can do a big yawn, (oh, my jaw doesn't lock or remain open, it just has these clicking sounds). A dentist even told me the exact name of this noise when the clicking occurs, but darn, if I can remember it.

The hinge under my ear, well it gets sore, once in a great while. As long as I don't open my mouth too wide, (I don't ever do this).

I get a TMJ (that's what I call it), once in a great while when I bite down on something and I haven't been paying attention to how I bite down on something, well, believe me, it gets your attention. It's like a lightening bolt of pain near your ears.

I just rub it, and apply warm compresses whenever this happens.

You can also get one of those night guards that you place into your mouth (either by prescription), or get a cheap one that you place in hot water, place it in your mouth and you mold it to your teeth, and it hardens and you sleep with it at night.

If I could remember to do that, I'd do it, but I know me, if I don't use my sleep apnea machine, I'm not going to be putting any night-time mouth guards in.

So just use warm compresses, and don't open your mouth too wide.

Also, when you next see your dentist, tell him what happened. He'll advise you better than me.

Take care,
Melody

Sounds real nasty, i would push for more investigation like a MRI or CT scan of your Cervical spine and whatever else is appropriate to sort this out.
good luck, i hope it goes away too.

Brian

I am long overdue for another scan.i have big problems with my C-spine, I already know I do.

The TMJ started along time ago with teeth grinding,and clenching my jaw. But it was still in the begnine stage.

Then as I said I was driving to the doctor that morning in heavy traffic,and I got a jolt near my ear.I was afraid to turn my head. It then was giving me shooting pains down the bottom of teeth. My scalp was also hurting. Now it's in both ears, and the entie joint area is affected,and my jaw hurts to open.
I have been sleeping with a hot water bottel on my jaw.

I knew it could only be a few things. Trigminal neuralgia,TMJ, or temporal arteritis. All 3 have some similar traits. But he did not even consider temporal arteritis. He said no to TN, since it's on both sides of jaw,very close to ears,and in scalp muscles,and also very sore jaw joints he said it has to be TMJ. Since I knew I had bruxism, I accepted the diagnoisis,but never thought bruxism could lead to such horror pains. My face really hurts and now I have to find activities that do not rquire the use of my mouth or jaw such as talking & eating,and the like until this settles down one day.

I understand that it's a very misunderstood condition too,as i read the TMJ forum, people are on that forum saying that it has ruined there lives and it's the most painful condition. When you get the shooting pain it feels like someone is trying to rip your jaw joint out so I totally understand. I apparently have at least a moderate case so far as I have pretty severe acute pain,and shooting pains. Who knows for sure but,it may even be TN to some extent. How perfect things can be.

My son uses one of those night guards,but i would check with a dentist.
Mel is right don't open mouth wide... Sue