questions
 

for your brain injury/concussion, has anyone had face pain?? if so, what did you have, where was it, how long did it last.....



for people who have had/have a brain injury, did it affect other things like eyes, ears (non-tinnitus), nose, mouth... ?? and if so, what did you experience, what/where was it, how long did it last, what did you do for it....
and did medical people 'believe' your other symptoms or just pass it off?

It would be more beneficial if you posted the facial symptoms you experience. Many have a myriad of symptoms but haven't figure out how to define them.

Every brain injury is different so comparing is a challenge.

Face pain implies that there was some damage to a nerve, either due to direct impact (if you hit your face!) or something internal like a neck injury. Gabapentin and pregabalin are a couple of options for neuropathic pain. I think cardio exercise is supposed to be helpful as well. And it's worth getting your neck checked out, in case the nerve pain is neck related. In terms of how long it'll last, that's highly variable. I still have some pain over a year later, but it's more mild than it was. I probably saw the most improvement over the first six months.

reply: questions
 

it is hard to find the words to describe the pain/feelings/sensations going on and I basically don't know how to! I was hoping someone had the words to describe what I can not.... :s



and thanks for the suggestion, MrT-Man. the last time I asked a medical person about 'face pain' (had a little of it, only in one spot), they flat out told me there was no way it came from my neck! which is what I was assuming, since I do have neck issues. [I didn't bring it up again, not wanting to be faced with another reaction like that again.]
I'm realizing what it's like to have one HCP contradict another HCP.......

Yes, face pain has been a very prevalent symptom of mine. Mostly between and above my eye, especially around the bridge of my nose and extending up into my forehead. It can be a numb tingling, an unpleasant pressure, a painful ache deep in the sinus, or a superficial burning sensation. Definitely varies in quality and also very subjective and hard to explain. It makes me want to constantly rub at my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. Sometimes the pain extends about two inches up my forehead. Similar to your experience at all?

Where in the face , what kind of pain?
To get best treatment & diagnosis your drs should have asked for descriptive words like any burning, stinging, dull, sharp, throbbing, and also the areas where the pain happens..

Might be something like..
Occipital Neuralgia - Google Search
Or
trigeminal neuralgia - Google Search

Trigger points in your muscles can cause referred pain & symptoms to the face..
Pain Reference Chart
Head and Neck | The Trigger Point & Referred Pain Guide

Yes, probably the V1 branch of your trigeminal nerve.

It really depends on the medical professional in question... I saw a neurologist who said that it absolutely can’t be neck related. I saw a neuro opthamologist who said it absolutely CAN be neck related. I believe the neuro opthamologist... the nerves do pass through the neck, after all, and I think neck treatment has been helpful for me.

reply:
 

[QUOTE=Jo*mar;1275057]Where in the face , what kind of pain?
To get best treatment & diagnosis your drs should have asked for descriptive words like any burning, stinging, dull, sharp, throbbing, and also the areas where the pain happens..

......
QUOTE]



Looking back at my first three doctor visits after getting my concussion brain injury (last two were with my PCP), I can see the LACK of … I’m not even sure what the correct word is here… lack of training or knowledge or interest or protocol or something. Maybe it’s a ‘rural area’ thing or maybe a state thing or maybe 90% of doctors just don’t know / don’t care. Things like the basic questions they should have asked, or how they didn’t even give my entire head a ‘once-over’, or how they never even asked what ALL of my symptoms were, or maybe even simply asking ‘how can I help ease your concerns’…….

In all, let’s just say if I had to do it all over again (man I hope not), I might even choose a different clinic than my regular one! And the whole ‘wait it out’ or ‘wait and see’/’just give it time’ -> I rather hear them honestly say ‘I don’t know how long it will take to recover’ than to hear that *stuff*.

reply:
 

I don't really have the descriptive words for this, yet. Sorry.

I guess I have multiple 'parts' or 'sections'. I can have pain in front of my ears (which can extend up to the edge of my forehead), a warm-ish (not quite a burning) sensation both sides of my face (lower half); a deep-ish pain between my nose and right eye along with some pain below that eye; then pain above my eyes and in the forehead; a unique pain just above the corner of my right eye (outer corner); plus some things I'm forgetting. The pains can be tingling or just an ache or sometimes sharp or some thing else or a mixture of those.