NeuroTalk Support Groups - Could this be ATN?

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- Trigeminal Neuralgia (https://www.neurotalk.org/trigeminal-neuralgia/)

- - Could this be ATN? (https://www.neurotalk.org/trigeminal-neuralgia/142079-atn.html)

Could this be ATN?

I am a 38 year old mom of 3 with random neurological symptoms that have seemed to settle on the right side of my face/head. (But, I still have occasional numbness in the extremities.)

After three months of constant, unexplained numbness in my chin and lower lip and random earlobe numbness in both ears, I woke up with a burning sensation surrounding my right ear on Christmas Eve. It extends in front of and behind my ear down part of my neck and toward my face. There is pressure around my ear, but the actual ear inside is clear. It affects the temple area. My cheek and lower lip/chin. It is present every moment, but it does not bother me at night at all. I don't experience it until I have been up 2 or 3 minutes. (The day before, I had a burning headache on the front right side of my head. Nothing relieved it. I have had that on and off for months.)

When it was just my chin and lower lip bothering me, I had an MRI, MRA, EKG, EEG, EMG, ct scan in October. All normal. A consult with a neuro in the hospital was short and sweet. On Christmas Eve, when the burning sensation started around the ear, I went to the ER again. The ct scan was normal. The ER doctor mentioned TN but left it at that. I followed up this week with my PCP. No mention of TN.

I had a routine appt. Thursday with my asthma doctor, and he mentioned TN. So, I started researching it. I think he may be onto something. But, I think mine would be ATN, IF this is what it is.

It is funny because I actually am trying hypo-allergenic make-up as applying make-up makes it stronger...as does eating breakfast. Those two issues were present BEFORE I had ever heard the name TN.

I have an appointment tomorrow at a clinic hours away because my family has been so concerned. But, I think I can get a Neuro referral from my regular doctor instead of starting over with a new Internal medicine doctor in a town hours away.

Please let me know your thoughts. While I do not want ATN, I want a diagnosis. I have prayed everyday that the symptoms go away or I find out what is wrong. I can handle either. The not-knowing is just hard. And, I don't want another week of laying around, wishing I had my life back 4 months ago. Why, oh why, did it have to get so bad at the absolute BEST time of the year? I was not the mom I wanted to be this Christmas.

Thanks for any input. :)

You could possibly have atn. It is difficult to diagnose but it sounds like you may have some form of TN. When you see the dr. ask for an anti-seizure drug to try, if it take the pain away or greatly diminishs it then you have it. I have ATN and I asked my dr. in 2004 for Neurontin and I immediately felt relief. That was how I was diagnosed. Trigeminal Neuralgia rarely shows up on any test. Some people get lucky but the mass majority of us never see anything. let us know what the dr. says and if you try anti-seizure drugs and they help/don't help. Take care and remember it's not a death sentence.

Wow, EllyKay, our symptoms are so similiar.
I am 32 yrs old, mother of 2.
Woke up one morning with left side of my face numb.
A week later, I had burning in both cheeks that was briefly intense.

That was a month ago...since then I have had the burning sensation non stop. I am so scared I have TN. I also have it in other parts of my body tho (shoulders/back/arms) but those aren't constant.

The dr said it could be that or MS. Either way scary, but the TN TERRIFIES me.

I have been looking and looking for someone else out there who is presenting like me, and you are the first I've found.

I know it's not a death sentence but it's completely petrifying to think of being in that much pain, esp because of my kids:(

Please, if you have heard anything, please let me know. Or if anyone else could comment.

Welcome to the board, ellykay72. How did the check up with the neuro go?

Numbness is caused by the dreaded complication of a failed MVD. Numbness is caused by injury to the TN nerve in different ways. The left side of my face is totally numb because of one failed MVD and two other surgeries at Mayo clinic. One was to partially cut the nerve which threw me into excruciating pain. Two days later, they went back in and severed the TN nerve. I now have AD and constant pain 24\7.
Anesthesia Delorosa means numbness as the Anesthesia part
says. Bless, Doodlebug7

Please, if you have heard anything, please let me know. Or if anyone else could comment.[/QUOTE]

42yo mom of two here. My symptoms are bilateral, and come with some really lovely limb pain as well. Neuro says not MS, we're looking at other autoimmune. Try to get in with a rheumatologist for a workup. I'm done messing around with local doctors who throw up their hands ... am headed to Cleveland Clinic next week.