It has been confirmed by consultants that a tooth filling was the initial cause, the dentist filled the root cavity which is never a procedure and usually leads to the patient having the tooth out the very next day as the pain is normally severe. Mine did not work like that, a few weeks later in February 2009 I started to feel light headed, dizzy, confused and with a headache. Many visits to the doctor and depression was diagnosed which was not right. September 2009 I started to get sharp and intense pain from the chin to my ear. Very sharp quick jolts like a thin knife being pushed through my jaw. These came in little clusters at first but by October I had to see the doctor as by this time I had developed shingles. I was warned at the time I may get Post Herpatic Neuralgia and sure enough, four weeks to the day at some time around 11 am it just went bang. I thought my head had been chopped off from the temple to the middle of my head. I tried to phone emergency, the doctor on their emergency line (who just told me to get off the line as I was not an emergency), ordinary doctor's line, my husband who was unavailable and finally my sister who was the only one able to understand who I was as I was not able to say much but she lives four hours drive away. In between I misdialled so many numbers.

December 2010 and at last having a brain scan, my neurologist thought I had TN which prompted the shingles. But in January 2011 I changed my dentist and asked for the tooth to be checked and the exray confirmed the tooth had been shattered and completely filled and it had to be removed as it was beyond repair or cap. Two dentists and one surgeon confirmed the tooth may be my TN cause. The extraction did not remove the PHN or the TN which I still have. I take meds which seem to change every few months due to side effects.

The shingles destroyed four tear ducts and two saliva glands to the right side of my face, it was later found that my eardrum had somehow dislodged itself but because I have no wax production the old eardrum attached itself to the new one and this caused iching, pain and severe intollerance to sounds. I lost part of my vision and also forgot to mention in January 2010 I noticed I had lost the use to the nerves on my face, so I even lost half of my smile. I am due to have two teeth removed as I can't have them capped.

I suffer with hot, cold and breeze or wind intollerance to my head, which is easier to deal with in winter as it is hot and uncomfortable in summer as it's the slightest of breeze which causes the most pain.

Anyway I am now 59 years old. Two years ago I did not think I would make it. But I have improved tremendously and enjoy all my new found abillities. And I have given up trying to do things I used to do but can't now. Acceptance and patience I think is the key.

I found that taking the prescibed meds for the neuralgia and some ordinary over the counter meds worked the best. But the pain should gradually ease. I was told that the brain heels in 3 monthly jumps and if you get an improvement (if only just a little) and you are not too old, the brain will be renewed completely in four years. So I have another two to go. But I probably will never be rid of the TN.

Too much information. Take care.