Hi!

In February, I was treated for an earache - I was complaining about a lot of pain in my jaw going towards the ear and went to an Urgent Care Center - since I'm new to the area.

The PA I saw said ear infection - gave me an antibiotic and ear drops, some pain meds, and sent me on my way. I don't like taking pain meds - but I took a few and they didn't seem to do anything.

I saw a dentist that same week, because I thought there had to be something wrong with my teeth with as bad of pain as I was having. He poked and prodded, took xrays, pulled and squeezed and couldn't find a thing wrong, said it was most likely related to the ear infection. After 5 days, it wasn't getting any better and I went back to the urgent care center.

I saw a different PA and she said that it was an ear infection, changed the antibiotic and sent me on my way. She also gave me a steroid shot while I was there. Soon after, the pain went away and life was normal again.

In May, all of a sudden, almost overnight, I had such excruciating pain in my lower jaw. I took 3 different types of pain pills, but nothing helped. I had taken enough that I should have been knocked out, but the pain was so bad for 24 hours that I couldn't fall asleep at all.

I went back to a different dentist the next day and, as like before, could not find a thing wrong with my teeth and said I should see a pain specialist.

I went to my regular PCP and she said it was TN, by the way I was describing and she sent me to an ENT to make sure there was no residual ear infection left. He found nothing wrong, said, in fact that it was TN the whole time.

After and MRI - in which the findings said I may have Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis with possible blockage, and an MRV to make sure everything was fine, my neurologist put me on Trileptal. For the first 3 weeks, the pain was gone, which is good, because it was usually constant pain with some excruciating pangs added in.

I questioned on whether or not it might be some sort of underlying tooth situation and she said - pain pills did nothing for the pain, if it were a toothache, it would have helped, and the Trileptal is working, if it were a toothache, it wouldn't affect the pain at all.

So the situation I'm in now, that I would love to have some advice on from someone that's been through this longer than I have....

After 3 weeks pain free, the whole left side of my jaw is hurting, almost constantly. Brushing my teeth, chewing, putting my teeth together - it all hurts, it's like the pressure causes an ache. It feels like my teeth don't want to fit together right now. A few times previously, it feels like that for a few days, then it all goes back to normal. Is that normal for TN? Is it just the nerves getting screwed up in the jaw and making the teeth hurt? Anyone ever have this before?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Glad you've found this wonderful forum!
This part of NT (the TN Forum) is pretty active....I've got some real good friends here who've worked hard in gathering some very good info....

They should be along to help answer any particular questions you have.

Please feel 'Welcome' here, as these folks are down to earth and truly caring.
You'll latch right on to them!

Struggling with pain is NO fun whatsoever.....but the thing I'm so grateful for is that we all share that common bond, which really makes things easier.....People who don't suffer the pain that we do can't really understand to the full extent of how this affects our quality of life in every aspect! As much as friends and family DO care and want to help, it's just next to impossible to try and 'describe' it to them.....
Here at NT, everyone 'knows' the dark corners this type of pain can lead us to......so we, build off one another's strengths.....

Please stick around.....the more you share, the more we 'build'.....
You've got friends here!

Truly Caring
Rae

Hi, welcome to the TN section, am sorry you've had to post here though.
Unfortunately, in a lot of cases it's almost considered 'normal' to have to go through the channels of misdiagnosis and numerous visits to the dentist, many of us started out the same as you
At least you finally reached the right person who diagnosed your condition, and it seems that you've had good advice.
I don't know much about Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis, neither do I have experience in taking Trileptal, but I would hazard a guess that maybe your have got used to your dose and need to consult your doctor again to see if it is safe for you to increase it?
Did you see a Neurologist when you had the results of your scan at all?
I'm assuming that your MRI did not show any kind of nerve compression which is a bona fide TN sign (although they don't always show up on the scan).
The nerve relaxant that I have to take is Tegretol (Carbamezapine), and often in large doses as well.
Ask questions and I'll try to help you all that I can, as will many others here.

Hi stargate
I agree with Bayleys reply.
also I do not have knowledge of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis
Happens allot that people have to increase the dose of the med they are on or switch to another med because the body becomes used to it and the med dose not work as well after awhile.
allot of folks take Tegretol or neurotin . at least you have a dx and are on the right path and once the right med or combo of meds is found you will be able to control the pain better.
Let us know how we can help and ask questions, keep us posted on how things go..we care and are here for you.
PEACE
BMW

The thrombosis thing is done, there is no more issue of that.

I'm more concerned on whether or not that tooth pain is normal. Since I've never really had a toothache and haven't had to deal with the TN very long, I'm not sure if I need to see a dentist, or just wait a couple days to see if it goes away.

And thank you all for the welcomes and replies.

I am so sorry for all your pain. You have been to the dentist and they confirmed that it was not your teeth. Thousands of dollars are spent every month on dental work that is unnecessary. May patients insist that it is their teeth and insist on taking them out. Then the pain is still there. The pain that you are describing is TN. You need to see a neurologist. He/she will put you on the right combination of meds for the condition. If you can get a copy of your mri then take it with you. There may be a visual vessel or artery on the nerve; but most of the time they can't see it unless you get a thin slice mri. Stick with the neurologist . They are very good at making a plan for your care. Your pain will start moving around in different places as time goes on. Your chin and your lips will start hurting. Everyone who has TN will describe their plan differently. There are many articles on the internet about TN. Read up on them. Always follow your doctor's orders. Good luck and I do hope you get to feeling better soon. Read all the details about the V3 nerve of the trigeminal nerve. This is the nerve that is causing you the tooth pain, even though your tooth is fine.
Take care of your self
Cheryl

Thank you all for your responses. For the most part, the pain in the teeth are gone, just a bit here and there. Have a little pain going from the jaw, wrapping around the mandible and to the throat, but I think I pulled that muscle and it's healing up. I slept with something sticking out of my mouth the other day so my teeth wouldn't touch, because it hurt so bad. I think doing that pulled that muscle...it's a muscle used to swallow...grrrrr

I thought for sure that I had to have an abscess or something, but I guess not. I guess I now know another form of pain to expect.

I look forward to more advice from those that have had this longer than I.

Awesome I am so glad your feeling better.I wish I could offer some info but I haven't had those types of issues.Mine came from and accident and I knew from the get go its been 11 years for me and I am feeling better then I have in a long long time at the moment.
do you have a night guard for your mouth / teeth to wear at night?
I used to have one and it helped but now I dont even have to use it anymore .
Do us a favor and stop learning the different types of pain try learning the different types of happiness it sound so much more pleasant to do lol.
keep us up dated on how your doing and may the pain continue to evict itself from you..
PEACE
BMW

Hello!
Your case seems very familiar. I went to Dr. numerous times with what I thought was an earache (never was). Dr. sd maybe sinuses so he gave Claritin or something? Still had trouble at different times. It kinda came & went. Sore throat, swollen glands maybe? Then sometime later teeth, jawbone were just killing me, too! Dentist had been keeping an eye on my last molar for 5 yrs. So, I told him to take it out. I just couldn't take the pain anymore. I can't even clearly say when the ear stabbing started (I think before the teeth). Went back to dentist. He sent me to endodontist for root canal. Anyway, I still had problems so I went to ENT (I had lost partial hearing in L ear several ears earlier after one of the earaches). ENT ordered MRI & sd call neuro right away. Neuro adv MS, never even mentioned TN. I didn't care, I told him. I needed help & right away. He put me on Tegretol and/or Neurontin. No help. I pleaded for surgery to correct situation. Surgery stopped the stabbing and helped immensely with teeth/jaw issues.

Hopefully, your neuro will be able to help you with meds alone!! Sometimes it just takes the right "cocktail." Hang in there!!

B-