Thank you for all your kind replies And sorry to hear that you all are suffering too.

I have some more news, but as you'll see its just left me more

I went to my GP on Monday, explained my symptoms like in my post here, he pressed around my cheek/jawbone (and made it hurt more), first he said it might be toothache but I said no, my teeth aren't hurting, its my cheekbone area that hurts. He then said I needed a blood test to make sure there is no inflammation. I asked him what is causing the pain and he says "there is something that can go wrong with your nerve but that would give you excruciating pain".

I thought to myself "if feeling like I'm being stabbed with an ice-cold knife isn't excruciating then I don't know what is" but by this point I was too tired and sore to question him more (it hurts if I talk a lot).

So, I had my blood test, and got a prescription for painkillers. I got home, took one painkiller tablet (Naproxen) and within an hour I was back at the surgery needing a nebulizer - the tablet had reacted with my asthma.

As you can see I had a very traumatic day I spent the rest of the day trying to sleep, but I got a new pain, this time it felt like I was being stabbed right through my ear. The pain happened 3 or 4 times in succession, each time strong enough to make me cry out loud and jerk my head, it was that intense.

Now I am waiting for result of blood test. Can blood test show TN ?

Meanwhile the pain is same as it was before (I am now on co-codamol as this is the safest for my asthma apparently). It hurts most of the time to some extent, a strong but dull pain, but every now and again I get stronger, sharp, stabbing pains on my cheekbone / in front of my ear, these are intermittent and last for maybe 30 seconds / up to a minute, they make me tense up because I don't know when there's going to be another one.

Another strange thing is, sometimes I feel itchy / kind of hot over my cheekbone and it makes me want to scratch it, but there's nothing there to make it itch. And I still get the 'twinges' across my cheekbone, I find it hard to explain what they're like. They don't hurt, they just feel like a 'blip' I suppose.

Sorry for long post and questions, I'm just really confused right now.

A blood test WILL NOT show if it is T.N. sometimes an xray or MRI will show the nerve being compressed by a vessel but many times it does not show up with MRI even
I am sorry you are going threw all this but I have hope you will get the right DX very soon and be put on meds that will help.
Let us know what the blood test shows and know we are here for you.

PEACE
BMW

So sorry you are getting the so called run a round. All of your pain that you have is exactly all the pain that I had when I had TN. Actually, I still have Tn. You kind of always do. You need to go see a Neurologist. They will know exactly what to do. They will start you on the right medication. If that does not work, then they will have other options for you.

The pain you are having is right in line with Tn. There are no tests, or blood work that shows TN. The Docs go simply on your description of the pain. Your pain could not be closer than my pain. I got TN March or 2009.

If you would like to talk to someone who has had it, I am more than happy to talk to you on the phone. You can email me at calewark@me.com. We can talk about exchanging phone numbers.

Please call tomorrow and try to get into a neurologist soon. They usually are really busy, so you what to get on the list right away.

Hope to hear from you soon

Cheryl
calewark@me.com

Hello everyone, and thanks once again for your kind replies

Well I went back to doctors yesterday for results of blood test. She said my white blood count was a little high and my red blood count low, and something else was high indicating inflammation, she said it looks like I have an infection and inflammation but the blood test doesn't tell her where.

She asked if I'd had a cold recently, I said no, just my usual sinus problems (I have suffered sinus problems for about the past year, on and off. Nasal irrigation works wonders but it still flares up from time to time).

She then said she thinks there is a sinus infection that is irritating the nerve in my face, and prescribed me antibiotics. If pain is still there in 7-10 days I must go back

So perhaps I not have TN? Does sinusitis irritate same nerve as TN?

Hi again, I thought that this may help you, in my opinion it is a brilliant piece of writing which I've lifted from the LivingwithTN website by a lady known as 'the researcher' I'm sure she'll not mind me sharing it as she seems to be a very helpful person. Some of it might apply to your situation, so have a read of this and see if it does help you....

http://www.livingwithtn.org/forum/to...31Comment38684

.

Bayley
I just joined living with last week I will have to see if I can find you there.I have been way to busy to make my way around there but when spare time is on my hands I will .
I dont like saying this but I did say it already in my first reply to you thisbe infection from sinus, tooth and other areas if not treated can spread to the trigeminal nerve . I so hope this is NOT the case and that once the infection is cleared up you will be feeling much better!!!
keep on top of this issue and know we are here for you.

PEACE
BMW