Hi guys I just joined the site and wanted to tell you guys a little about my problem and see what advice you guys have for me.

Basically this all started about 3 years ago, I had a really bad virus and was throwing up and the left side of my head was tingling and throbbing and causing facial numbness. I had a brain mri done and a brain mra done 3 years ago and everything was fine yet I still had this tingling throbbing problem. The throbbing/tingling sensation is on the left side of my head right in front of my ear and travels the left side of my head, it's a throbbing/Tingling sensation and it also causes the left side of my face to tingle a little bit. the throbbing and tingling are constant 24/7 also the pressure is more intense when I talk, I wear a mouth guard every night and that hasn't helped at all. It's very difficult to live my life like this and I have been doing a lot of research lately and have come across something called Trigeminal Neuralgia. I know this is an external problem because when I apply heat or pressure to the area it seems to cause temporary relief. I would really appreciate anyone's advice or if anyone can relate to this problem? I feel like I'm the only one being tortured by this problem!

- bmwzw

Hi. bmw I am glad you found your way here
It is possible to have infection and it travel and damage one or more branches of the trig nerve.
Have you seen a neuro. many times t.n. or even a compression will not show on mri.
By you applying heat to area you are warming the nerve and "calming" it down. some find heat helps others it is a cold compress.
I would strongly suggest you see a neurologist or pain specialist so they can diagnose you and help control your pain.
You are not alone. there are lots of understanding members here who "get it" because we all are dealing with the ugly pain monster.
see a neuro a.s.a.p. they are the best ones to know if it is t.n. and what meds you may need. and remember you have us here to help with questions and here for support.
Sending good energy and low pain to you.
PEACE
Tina ... usually it is BMW but that is a name one of the mods gave me a few years ago its short for Burntmarshmallow . but now we have a bmw so I am Tina


edit to say also read around this forum and the stickies up top have some very helpful links and tons of info.

Burnt,

I have had this problem for many years after a virus where I was straining and throwing up. It def. is an external issue I wake up in the morning with it and It's incredibly debilating. You are the first person that can relate to what I'm going through. So you have heard of this problem before? Usually when I talk the pressure is worse. I'm going to make an appointment at the Diamond Headache Clinic. Does this sound like TN to you guys? the pain isn't in the face it's just on the left side of my head, if I apply pressure to that area it feels better, but once I take it off it throbs!

I would post this in our O.N. and other cranial neuralgia.. here is the link ...
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum105.html
I would be guessing as I am not a doc and thats who you need to see A NEUROLOGIST . but it sounds like some type of compression of a nerve not so much the Trigeminal nerve or one of its branches but a cranial nerve or nerves .

you mention Talking brings the pain out more and that happens for many of us talking and chewing is a "Trigger" . how are you when you eat and chew? Dose wind or breeze bother you?
When you go to the Headache Clinic are you to see a neuro doc or a pain doc? try to have mri and rule out any other issues sometimes compression will show on MRI and sometimes not. a Neuro doc is the one to get appointment with if you can.
Follow the link I gave above and post your question there also as it very well may be another type of neuralgia . tho pain is pain is pain. many of the options for T.N. O.N. and other neuralgia are basically about the same.
Sending you a wish for rest of this month to be packed with plenty of "Good" days . Keep us updated when you get the appointment . If you need help with any questions or anything just post . we will try as best we can to help.
PEACE
Tina

I replied on the ON thread. You say you feel its external and I pointed out that you indicate you wear a bite guard for TMJ? Anyway, you should see a neurologist but if you are already treating with someone for TMJ, you should also contact them about your symptoms. Like BMW, I'm also guessing here so keep that in mind.

MRI and MRA were both fine, this is driving me crazy! the only thing that helps is Heat!!!

If heat is all thats helping, it could point to muscle involvement which could be compressing the nerves or it could be due to clenching from the TMJ, again I'm speaking from my own experience here. If it were me, I'd reach out to whomever is treating the TMJ. I've had injections before into the joint which are extremely painful, but they do calm down the pain for a bit and help break the cycle. If its ON, then there are nerve blocks they can do to also help, and there are medications but you need to get a handle on whats causing it so a neuro is probably your best bet. Hang in there and post when you find out what it is. You are already scheduled to see a headache specialist so that should also help you determine what the problem is. I think most of them are neurologists so that is a good thing. Take care

Another thing that really helps is Klonopin it really helps the pain, I try not to take it too much because I don't want to go through withdrawal but it really helps! Does this further your theory that the muscle is crompresing the nerve? Let me know ??? I know you are not a Doc but I'm very curious to what you think.

You are not alone with persistent tingling/throbbing sensation on left front side of the head. Mine, in addition to the head, spreads acorss the entire left side of the body from head to toes. After almost 10 years of classic medecin procedures and pills intake without success, I got out of the country for further help. The doctors there, quickly put me through detox procedures. And, I successfully got off Clonazepen (Klonoppin) and others. Because they told me I was not a psychosis. It was narrowing of the coronary arteries that leads to the atherona;arterial filters (carotid cavity)-- the filter that supplies blood to the brain... The doctors there explained that my brain is not getting sufficient blood irragation because of this condition; where the least effort causes tingling in the left side of my body. I have in fact observed that my blood has become really thick over the years as my veins do not shoot blood out the way they used to.

Anyways, I am not sure which ones of the doctors (here and there) are telling the truth. Here, I am being told that in addition to high cholesteral count, I have abnormal EKG but they do not know what is causing. Over there, I am being told that the reason I having all these symptoms is because I have angina, which has been aggravated by the narrowing of the carotid cavity.

Let us find a way to link up to see if we could exchange further information about this condition.

Just an FYI,,,,I have ATN/AD and sometimes a warm compress makes the pain and tingling much better,,,

Don't diagnose yourself,,,it may not be at the surface. What I find concerning is you developing it after having a virus... there are those of us out there and many Neuro's won't admit to it but the cause of our TN is viral.

I have anecdotal evidence to know that mine is and I did speak to one very open Neurosurgeon who said that there are more cases of viral induced TN than earlier believed....

That being said,,,I'm no MD,,,this might be something a chiropractor could help with if it is more muscular but get to a good Doc that listens...take in a pain journal,,try to figure out if you have anything that sets it off or makes it worse,,,don't jump to conclusions....get the right medical attention..

And then let us know what you find out!!!