I have been experiencing some of the most VIOLENT pulsating electrical shock like pain in my gums..It started about 2 months ago. I had a tooth on top that was sore to the touch but didn't have tooth ache with it other than it was sore to push on. I went to the dentist and she said something about the ligaments that connect the tooth to the bone was receding and it had to come out. Well I opted with an oral surgeon so I could be sedated because of my dental phobia..(embarrassed)..So I had the tooth extracted with no problem. I thought this was gonna take care of the electrifying shock I was experiencing. I figured my nerve was exposed was why I was having this pain.
5 days later, OMG that violent pain came back...I have cried and cried. Now I'm thinking it has to be another tooth! This pain comes with no warning and it is so violent that I told my husband please keep your guns locked up because I am afraid If I had access to one I would kill myself. I am terrified beyond belief because I have never had pain like this in my life, I am living in fear, just fearing the next episode. When it happens I jump and start running screaming and holding my mouth in hopes putting pressure on the area will make it stop...I have not been diagnosed with TN and just ran across and article that fit my description to a T....I told my oral surgeon about this but he didn't really say anything about it other than hmmm.....Just need some advice and someone to talk to....I can't quit crying for fear...

SO sorry for what you are going through. I can relate to the panic and fear that this kind of awful pain causes. I recommend that you see an Internist or better yet a Neurologist as soon as you can. You might also want to go to the emergency room for more immediate help. After I was tentatively diagnosed but not yet given the right medication because we were waiting for test results, my pain escalated to intense and constant pain, so I went to the ER. They gave me medication that at least took the edge off the pain so I could sleep. Once I got the right medicine the next day, I had almost instant relief. So hang in there and insist that you get the medical treatment you need. No one should have to suffer but sometimes we have to push to be treated. It isn't obvious to others how much pain we are having. We have to keep telling them till we are heard and given what we need. I hope you find relief soon. And do know there there are many treatment options.

Welcome to Neuro Talk. I would seek the ER if this happens again. They can tie you over with some medications, until you can get to a neruologist. Make the appts. now with PCP in case you need the referral. Don't hesitate to go into the hospital, nobody wants to suffer like that. Did you have a full mouth Scan? MRI? Find out what is wrong so you can get some relief. A tooth, and or infection hurts, but what you are experiencing is way over the top. I do wish you all the best. Sorry you have to go through this. ginnie

Sherri,
I was terrified, too. My Doctor could not figure out what was causing my "drop to the floor" pain. I went to the dentist. Thank God they didn't try your extraction while you were awake. If it is TN, and it sounds like what I had, see a neurologist. All the pain meds couldn't keep me from having an attack. Any stimulation on the left side of my face could start one. Riding a bike, swimming under water, eventually even chewing set it off. Life as I knew it was over. Then I got the operation. My doctor put felt pad and teflon between my nerve and my vessel and I haven't had an attack since then. No meds from the time I woke up in recovery. Don't give up. Get checked for TN. Sending hope your way.
Dottie

What a neat operation to hear about. You may have just helped find a solution to the dear woman who posted about this TN. I had never heard of this kind of proceedure before. Glad that it worked for you! Nice to hear about a success! ginnie

I live in the Pgh area and while my pain was a mystery, my best friend researched my symtoms and came up with TN. Then she told me a doctor had invented an operation to fix my problem. After that I started going to the ER at the hospital where he worked, 20 mile out of my way. Eventually, I saw Dr. Janetta and his asso. preformed my operation, Dr Casey. I was given my life back. It's been 7 and a half years, I never had another attack. There is hope!

And for those who don't know what operation we are talking about, it is a Microvascular Decompression. There is a journal about Ella's experience with her surgery at the top of this TN forum. There are other procedures that can offer relief, but the MVD is probably the best solution.

Sorry you are suffering like this. I too was suffering with something similar when I first found this site. Mine was on my left side of face and in my gums like you explained. I found it difficult to sleep, eat, brush my teeth, etc..It was the worst pain I had ever felt. It drove me insane. I went to dentists, oral surgeon, PCP, and now I finally have appt with a neurologist soon. I had a tooth pulled thinking it was pushing on a nerve but no relief. It continued to get worse. My PCP diagnosed it as TN and prescribed Topamax and on Day 10 of taking this I finally had relief, actually a big turn around. Somethings that helped for me was to try relaxing my jaw because when I tensed it, it got worse. I used hot compresses on face. I used hot towels and wrapped around base of neck. I had to take deep breaths to calm myself down when it was pulsating and shocking me. I know that can be hard when its full blown. I drank alot of water and took B vitamins. I stopped drinking caffeine. I had Lidocaine cream prescribed and used that on gums and face to numb it. It helped me but some say it didn't help them. I read everything I could about TN until i drove myself crazy. I hope you get the relief you need. There is alot of support online.