I'll start about 15 years ago. My fathers death brought on a lot of physical problems due to stress. Basically, I have gradually been on more and more narcotics over the years, as they have worn off in effectiveness. (And several other meds for emotional problems etc.) I am on a 50mcg Fentanyl patch with additional rescue medication. The reason I am saying this is to give a setting for the AMOUNT of PAIN I am going through, EVEN WITH all this medication!!

I have fibromyalgia, and I think there could be a link between it and Trigeminal Neuralgia, but I don't know for sure....

I am basically trying to find out where to do next, and to find out if you all think that this is indeed Trigeminal Neuralgia.

I went to Emergency when it first hit, hard and fast in the middle of the night. The pain covers the left side of my face, and through my jaw joint and into both the upper and lower teeth on the left side. It is worst in the morning when I get up, and some days, even wears down nicely during the next couple of hours after waking. If I massage between the jaw joint and my ear, it definitely makes a difference in the pain, usually it helps.

The emergency doctor told me he thought it was Trigeminal Neuralgia. He recommended that I INCREASE the amount of lyrica I am on. Yes, I am already on a healthy dose of Lyrica for Fibro. I couldn't afford to increase it. It's extremely expensive!

Here is the thing that casts all the doubt in my mind. A bit later I notice that my upper wisdom tooth, on that side, which HAS come out fully, causes a burn sensation in my jaw when I put pressure on it during chewing.
During the vacation time, I got my dentist on her personal phone, and she put me on antibiotics. The idea was, if the antibiotics helped, it incriminated the tooth, and it would have to be pulled. That was on the 28th, 7 days ago, and the pain is as bad as ever, maybe even worse, again, even with all the pain medication I have to throw at it!! It still hurts when I put pressure on the tooth. Alot. Now I have an appointment for the dentist to see it. In OVER TWO WEEKS!!

Could the pain from the tooth just be part of the Trigeminal Neuralgia, and not caused by a problem with the tooth itself?? That is the major question in my mind!!

If it IS Trigeminal Neuralgia, What should I be reading to educate myself and figure out the next move? My doctor is good, but I have no idea if I should ask for a referral.

I'm on the edge of my seat! Thanks in advance!
PD

I placed a copy of your post on our Dental forum also, just in case there might be some answers there.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...d.php?t=162830

Be sure to read thru the useful sticky thread at the top of the thread list here, and other posts for more information.

Thank you! That was nice of you!!
PD

This is a complete coincidence. Or at least I thought it was. I had decided to dismiss it as a nerve pinch or something. Now I am reading sticky's, and I feel like I am looking in a mirror!

We had company a week ago, and I was sitting on a low stool. My wife came up behind me, and we were roughhousing a bit. She had her hands together and arms hanging around my neck, and she shook a bit back and forth.

What followed was insane. I felt like I was electrocuted down my neck! I ended up laying on the floor, in pain, afraid to move since I didn't want to feel it again. A minute or two later, I carefully tried, and I was able to get up normally. Still felt a bit of the pain, but it gradually left.

A few days later, I was standing at work with a pressure washer nozzle in my hand, like at a car wash, and I turned a certain way, and ZAP! It happened again. Not as bad as the first time, I stayed on my feet, and it passed after 10 or 20 seconds. Again, I thought it was nothing serious, and kept working without further incident.

Now I was reading the notes on caring for a person with TN, and I read what looked like a word for word description of what happened! I thought I should add it to my story here to help any knowledgeable people who wish to help out.

Thanks!
PD

PD, there isn't an easy answer to your questions. I was in and out of my dentists office for years and when I finally had my last root canal and I still was having pain triggered when that tooth was touched, it was apparent that the tooth was dead(no feeling) and the cause was TN. My DH woke up to my bouts of this horrible pain during the last root canal episode as just drinking something set off the pain. I was eventually sent to a neurologist who diagnosed me. Sadly it took years for the docs to get it right. I think you need to start with your GP or PCP. Let them try to help guide you as to whom to see next. One thing I did pick up is you mentioned that when you massage between your ear and jaw that the pain feels better. Is there a dentist who specializes in TMJ in your area? If so, you may want to consider getting an appointment with one to rule that out as a cause of your pain. I'm not a doctor and that is really who should advise you about where to go next. Good luck and let us know how things are going.

So sorry for the awful pain you are having! I would strongly recommend that you see a neurologist as that is the specialty that can best diagnosis and treat TN or rule it out! Keep searching for answers and treatment and relief from your pain.

Dentist had a cancellation, and I was just in. The wisdom tooth was infected and decayed. It's gone now. I would guess the rest of the problem is too!!

Thanks for the input though everyone! I will leave a note when I know for sure.

PD