PAIN! Trigeminal Neuralgia
 

Hello, I am in severe pain and have been for almost 3 months but it all started about 7 months ago when my crown on #18 came loose and the dentist re-cemented it back on..........That was last December and I knew something was not right. It hurt non-stop for a week and then he did a root canal and then it still hurt and then he did another root canal on #19 and it still hurt so I went to an Endodontist and he did yet another root canal so teeth 18,19 and 20 were all root canaled. #18 had a bad infection in it and so did #19. I did about 6 rounds of antibiotics. I went to the Oral surgeon for a 2D X-ray and he found nothing. I just went this last Saturday to a different Oral surgeon for a 3D X-ray and he found nothing. I can't get any relief from this pain. I have an appointment with the Neurologist on June 9th....the soonest they could get me in. I've never had this kind of pain in my life and I'm wondering if having that much dental work or the Novocain could have caused this??? Or was it from the first tooth having an infection for a long time before the crown fell off??? Anyone have any ideas?
Has anyone gotten any relief from this kind of pain before? I just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel.
I am so afraid of taking medication. I work full time so I can't come to work feeling "fuzzy".
What medication if any has anyone had good success with?
Thanks, hope to hear from you!!

Hi Karensue,

I can re-assure you that you are not describing TN. That is sudden, sharp, stabbing needle, electric shock type pains that only last a few seconds at a time, but can strike repeatedly.

You seem to be describing a permanent, horrific pain, and seem to suspect the culprit already. Have you Posted on our Dentistry Forum and sought advice there?

I am unsure what direction a Neuro will take considering your history. Neuropathic Facial Pain as a dx with rx for Gabapentin or another Anti-Convulsant? Just thinking of my own dx to go with my Paresthesia and classic TN caused by an arterial knot round my Trigeminal Nerve.

Whatever happens, I hope you find relief soon.

Dave.

Where is the pain and how does it feel?

Pain
 

The pain is on the left side of my mouth and it feels like a throbbing toothache. Sometimes it feels like I am chewing on tin foil. It hurts when I put my teeth together and then sometimes I have pain in my ear or in my jaw.
It does not hurt when the dentist taps or hammers on #18,19 or 20 but when I touch them they hurt and I can't chew on my left side.

Hi karensue,

Are you taking any pain killers that reduce the pain?

Dave.

You can get a trigeminal nerve injury from the anesthetic injection or you can end with an injury from a root canal. People who report the tin foil taste usually received articaine vs lidocaine. Trigeminal nerve injury should not be confused with trigeminal neuralgia. Throbbing tooth pain doesn't really fit TNI or TN. Like Dave said- you might want to post on the dental group here.

Dave,
I take Ibuprofen 800 mg and it helps a little bit. I've been to 4 dentists, general, endo, and 2 oral surgeons and not one of them can give me an answer to what is causing the pain. My general dentist has wanted me to go to a neurologist since March and now the last oral surgeon that I went to told me the same thing. I'm stumped on where to go or what to do. My general GP knows that I'm going to the neurologist and she didn't have any other suggestions either. Yesterday I was reading on Med health forums and saw people with similar problems and people were suggesting Periodontics. (???????) Wouldn't one of the dentists that I already have seen recommended that?
Anyway, thanks for your help and replies.

Karen

Hi Karensue,

Just because your pain does not present as TN - flashes of stabbing, electric shocks lasting seconds to minutes - does not mean that your problem is not with your Trigeminal Nerve caused by something atypical that your Neuro will be able to identify. I just don't want you to expect a TN dx.

With my TN, which is classic, I also have chronic, atypical Neuropathic Facial Pain/Paresthesia which the Neuros put down to the arterial knot around the nerve, but cannot understand why I have it permanently.

Facial pain is miserable, exhaust all avenues at your disposal.

Dave.

I have heard constant, frequent tapping and other manipulation of a single tooth can damage the Trigeminal nerve. I suspect this may be what happened to me. I went to the dentist with no pain at all and after a lot of excessive work, ended up with a lot of pain in the area. My pain is usually a constant boring pain from my jaw into my ear. It is sometimes, but rarely sharp. Just constant and maddening. Sadly, for me, the pain did not stop, although I suspect that very recently after three years it is a teeny tiny bit better. I think for some people, it does get better and even goes away or practically goes away. My neurologist was able to help me. I had to try a lot of different medications before finding something that helps. My diagnosis originally was atypical Trigeminal neuralgia, but I think it's been changed slightly. Very generally speaking, the two meds that seem to help the most for this pain are Gabapentin and a Tricyclic medication like Elavil, often together. But, everyone is different. And you likely need a good evaluation by a dentist AND a neurologist. Again, many people get better in time, it just might take a long while. After three years I definitely still require medication and still react badly to triggers (very cold weather, very windy weather, vibrations...like car travel, etc.) but, I am grateful to have more control of this monster. With a good doctor, good medications and time, I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. I use a compounded cream, which is different than most folks...you can look at my old posts or pm me for more details. Good luck and good thoughts for swift improvement.

Is there a possibility she has atypical trigmenial neuralgia or atypical facial pain?