[liz seager]

hi im new to this sensation of pain in my face. at this stage it is manageble heat packs help. i have looked all over the net for information but i prefer first hand knowledge. my pain started after root canal work. any advice would be helpful.

[bluemom]

Hi, Liz! I'm new to all of this, too. When it became clear that I had a problem, I headed straight for a neurologist. Find one now if you don't already have one. It can take awhile to get in with a specialist.

I hope your pain settles down soon. In the meantime, I'm glad you found that heat helps.

Bluemom

[PAYNE1]

Originally Posted by liz seager

hi im new to this sensation of pain in my face. at this stage it is manageble heat packs help. i have looked all over the net for information but i prefer first hand knowledge. my pain started after root canal work. any advice would be helpful.

I am relatively new to facial pain, also. I've read that the trigimial (sp) nerve in the face can be aggravated by dental work, leading to neuralgia. My doc isn't quite sure what's causing mine. But he put me on trileptal, and it seems to be better. Have you told your dentist about your pain?

[Bassetcase]

So sorry to hear that you have just been introduced to the TN monster. This forum is a great source of information and sympathy. Others may be away for the long holiday, but they will be back soon to offer much support I am sure.

My pain was misdiagnosed as inner ear trouble for years until finally seeing a Neurologist that ruled out everything else and came up with the "Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia" diagnosis. Tegretol seems to be the first drug of choice to start out with. My flare ups are sporadic so I only take it when I have an episode, and like you my heat pad (microwaveable bag) helps better than anything. But for others heat makes it worse.

I can't offer a lot of advice, but just wanted to say hello and let you know that this is a wonderful group of people on here and others will be along soon to offer more information. Be sure to read the "stickies" at the beginning of the forum posts - they are a wealth of information. If you can find some of my old posts - you can read more about my specific case. I don't know that mine was caused by any type of dental work or anything else.

Take care, and I hope you get some relief soon.

Rhonda

[fliplovestoeat]

Hi I am not new to the pain ( over 6 years) but I am newly diagnosed

For 6 years dentists told me it was dental pain and then tried their best to empty my wallet.

Finally I ended up at a very nice neurosurgeons office who referred me on to a very nice Neurologist and diagnosed with TN.

I am on Gabapentim and have Endep for bad nights

I am so relieved to finally have a specialist who knows it is not dental or sinus related

[chalkdusty]

I'm new to all of this too - day 32 for me. Mine also started with dental work. The neurologist diagnosed "atypical facial pain" but after doing much research on the Internet I think I have atypical odontalgia. My pain is mostly in my teeth and is constant. The doctor put me on amitriptyline and I've got some prefixed fir break through (but it doesn't really do much). Narcotics don't seem to do much for this type of pain. I wish you the best in controlling your pain. I still haven't obtained control of mine.

[chalkdusty]

That is supposed to say percocet for break through pain. That's what I get for sending the message from my iPod. It spells great, just not the words I want it to spell....

[liz seager]

i have been from dentist to root canal specialist to facial surgeon. next step neurologist.

[Lolav1/v2]

Hello. Just putting in my 3 cents worth about following up with all the information you can gather. MRIs are important to rule out MS lesions and tumors. My client had sensations similar to mine but her MRI showed a tumor...small, benign and easily accessible. My MRI showed nothing - for which I was profoundly grateful. Although I'd rather have a benign tumor over MS, I am 50-50 on TN vs. tumor. Right now, pain is minimal and controlled with Lamictal.

See a neurologist as soon as possible. Then see another. Have the MRI, thin sliced version. Read all you can find. You are not crazy, its not your imagination, and the sooner you can control the pain the better you will be now and in the future.

Best,
Lola

[easygoing]

Originally Posted by liz seager

hi im new to this sensation of pain in my face. at this stage it is manageble heat packs help. i have looked all over the net for information but i prefer first hand knowledge. my pain started after root canal work. any advice would be helpful.

hi Liz,

hope you are doing okay and your pain is staying under control. how did you get diagnosed with TN? have you seen a neurologist and has have they prescribed any medications?

heat has always made my pain better and at least eased it somewhat. you will find that Tn is a very individual disease and seems to be a little different in symptoms for all of us and seems to be ever changing. the medications also seem to be very individual. what seems to work for pen of , does not work for the next. what may work for you for weeks, months or years may stop working.
then there are some of us who seem to have the god fortune to have only occasional bouts and take meds for a short time.
the best advice I can give you is to learn all you can, see a neurologist, get a second opinion from another neurologist and ask as many questions as you need.
hope your day is a happy one
Easygoing