Hi,

My name is Jesse and I am 15. Since I was 9, I've been suffering from debilitating migraines and head pain. I would only get those strong migraines a few times a year.

But a few months ago, it was on Thanksgiving day infact, I was having horrible striking/shooting/stabbing/electrical pain on the left side of my face. I thought it was a migraine, possibly triggered from not sleeping much the past 2-3 days prior. We went to the ER and my doctor was an absolute jerk (I smelled alcohol coming off of him, but it could as well of been hand sanitizer). He gave me benadryl and toradal (which I have a prescription for at home which I rarely use - I dislike the way it makes me feel).

Continuing to the next day, the striking and electric like pains continued. It continued to the next day also, which is when I went to the Urgent Care and they gave me stronger pain meds which killed the pain, and when it wore off 5 hours later I was still in pain.

Since then, I have been feeling the shooting pain off and on. I think it's triggered when I go outside/or cry. I complain all the time that I'm in pain, but it isn't the shooting pain, just an annoying ache/boring pain in the same location on my face where I have felt the electrical pain. So now I have both the electrical pain - and the aching/boring pain.

My pain/tender locations is my eyebrow, behind my eye, and from my cheekbone to my temple on the left side of my face. I have also felt the electric and boring pain on the back of my head, near my neck. (my neck gets absolutely tight with knots nearly everyday!). Lastly, my jaw has boring pain, but I haven't felt any shooting pains in my jaw. It's just a tender location.

So pretty much I feel the boring/aching pain in my face everyday, with the electrical strikes every now and then - at least a few episodes a week. The reason why I think I might have either Trigeminal Neuralgia or ATN is because my mom suffers from Trigeminal Neuralgia since she was 30. Also, in her late term pregnancy with me she had Chicken Pox, which is related to a Neuralgia.

My doctor suspects its TN and he is finding a neurologist currently. He has prescribed Tegretol - which was horrible! It made my leg/thigh swell up with exploding pain. Now I'm on Cymbalta - Which has helped with the frequency of the striking pain, and Oxycodone for when the attacks happen.

Now I want your opinion - Do you think it's TN or ATN, or both? My mom has TN, so I'm wondering if it could be hereditary. Thanks for reading and the responses!

Hi Jesse . I am Glad you are getting in to see a neuro. They are the best ones to answer and help with your questions. I am not a doc but I would be leaning more toward ATN . I think that some times this can be hereditary .
There are all types of medications that will help. Right now thats is where you are , trying to find the right meds and dosage and adjusting to them. try to give each med time to work into your system .
It is the weekend but I know soon others will chime in. When you have a set appointment with a neuro doc let us know I am not sure if it really matter much if its T.N. or ATN the options fairly the same for both. I hope this helps you a little bit and I really hope to keep seeing you post . Sending low pain and a wish for a good weekend.
PEACE
BMW

Jesse,

It really could be typical or atypical TN. It's really great that they are starting you on medicine because thats half the battle (trying to figure out which medicine best suits you). I had issues with the medicine just like you, for me my limbs went numb. I am one year post op MVD so thankfully i do not suffer every day anymore. I highly recommend getting to a neurologist so that they can properly diagnose and get you on the right medicine. Good luck with everything and stay strong!

Thank you both! Sadly this morning I am having severe aching pain on the left side of my face, but thank goodness for pain medication! I am going to see my doctor on the 20th and we will probably mess with my meds a little bit. He is still in the process of getting a neurologist. I will for sure keep you guys updated with my progress