Originally Posted by jennadeleon

Hi everyone. i'm new to the site and the forums and just got diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia today. But i'm concerned about my symptoms as they don't seem like the typical and common symptoms of TN.

History is that in 2005 i had a bunch of dental work in my upper left tooth near my molar. In 2006 while enlisted in the military, they re-did my root canal. I'm not sure if this is the cause of any nerve damage but a year later, I've felt alot of pain and thought it was the toothache.

Early 2007, I went to a dentist thinking it was my tooth and he took x-rays and did some exams and couldn't find anything wrong but he prescribed my Vicodin ES which seemed to work. No symptoms or episodes for about 6-8 months. The pain felt like throbbing pain that lasted about 10-15mintues and would fade to pain that felt like alot of pressure and a dull ache. I felt this same pain throughout the end of the year and in 2008 sometimes 3 times a week, sometimes every 3 months. It comes and goes.

However, this year seemed to be the worst and is progressively getting worse. In June, I had so much pain that I had an emergency appointment with a different dentist and req to redo my root canal, after many xrays, evaluation and medications, they confirmed that it was NOT my tooth and it was not TMJ either. The pain i felt also had alot of pain in my left jaw and cheekbone. They referred me to a medical doctor to be evaluated for TN.

This week, on Sunday i had the same pain again, and once more Monday evening when I walked into the Sauna after a session at the gym. Monday night is when i felt the most excruciating pain I have felt. I felt the pain crawling up my cheek to my teeth, underneath my eye, in my teeth and jaws. Could barely move my jaw (i think because i didn't want to) it felt like throbbing for about 20-30 minutes with a severly dull ache that led to major pressure in my teeth, cheekbone and jaw.

i saw my PCP today and he diagnosed me with TN. I have been reading on many forums and haven't found much like my symptoms. I just want to know if anyone else have these symptoms or similar to them. Please help..

I was given Tegretol 200mg/day to start off...

Thank you for your replies

Originally Posted by cc smiley

Hello, yes I have the same problem on the left side. I have blood vessels compressed on the nerve. My mouth hurts alot my gums swell, I have a bridge on the upper left side, at times I just want to rip it out! Chewing is impossible on that side, my jaw hurts to the point I can't talk, smile and chew. I had MVD surgery in 05 that didn't work, I take Tegritol up to 600mgs. aday and vicodin, when the pain starts it can last up to 3 weeks. I do the best I can mostly sleep because of the increase medication, I don't always take that high dose of tegritol, I usually take 200 to 300 mgs, when I go higher and in that much pain I just want to sleep. If you have any other questions maybe I might be able to help.