If the occipital block worked that one time, I wonder if you have tried lidocaine on the back of your neck?

This comes in compounded and manufactured tubes, and also in patches. I had a terrible time with meralgia paresthetica...this was a compressed nerve from the spine, which goes thru the abdomen and out under a ligament at the groin thigh area. It is sensory only. It was damaged from a C-section many years ago.
It went from numbness, odd sensations to stabbing breath taking PAIN. When the lidoderm patches came out, I tried those and applied where the nerve exits at the top of the thigh and lo and behold in 2 weeks of everyday use, the pain remitted...after many years! It is still in good shape today, unless I expose it to heat, as in a hot bath, or steam room. I get warning twinges then and so I avoid all heat and things are livable for me. It seems so simple, and I guess I was lucky.

There is another thing you can try... because some stabbing nerve pain is ischemic in nature. That is to apply topical magnesium in the form of a lotion to the back of your neck once or twice a day. This is a new product and I use it for tense muscles and foot neuropathy. It even is lowering my hypertension! (the magnesium is absorbed). Magnesium is a NMDA pain receptor antagonist, and blocks pain signals. It opposes calcium at this receptor.

This is the product...very inexpensive and simple to use.
http://www.mortonsalt.com/for-your-h...-epsom-lotion/

It is not everywhere yet. WalMarts has it, and now I hear Walgreens is starting to carry it. It is also online at Amazon.
This product is rather miraculous and a worth a try for you.
Magnesium opens circulation by relaxing smooth muscle in the arteries. It will relax skeletal muscle, too and is good for cramping. But its pain relieving actions are fabulous. I have many people on NT here using it. It costs $5.98 at WalMart.

MSG in food is to be avoided by people with nerve pain. Watch the ingredients in your food. Monosodium Glutamate, stimulates that NMDA pain receptor.

Other foods that may cause burning or nerve pain, are the nightshade vegetables. The peppers, potato and tomatoes all contain an alkaloid called solanine, which can set off sensory problems. Tomatoes especially also are histamine stimulants...and histamine causes burning, tingling in many people. Check your diet for these and
do without for at least 2 weeks and see if your attacks lessen.

If you take an ACE inhibitor for blood pressure? Please tell me.
These release bradykinin which is very difficult to remove and some people have a genetic error and can not get rid of it. It will cause burning and itching and pain anywhere in the skin.
Also another drug family are the statins, for lowering cholesterol.
These drugs have recently been found to damage neurons. I have photos of this damage on the PN forum right now:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread197080.html
Research is showing that statins are not safe in any way, and actually kill cells over time. This damage seems specific to people and differs quite a bit...but can affect any place in the body.

Your Doryx is not known for causing neuropathy, but it may cause Candida (yeast) overgrowth, as a side effect.
Have you tried Nizoral shampoo? It will take care of Candida of the scalp.

I have no idea what is going on other than the bicycle accident was in July 2008 and this "itch" these electric jolts as if someone were sticking pins into my head and not "ice pick" headaches as one of the doctors I've seen is convinced and will not budge from her diagnosis and her conviction that I should be able to take nortriptyline "if you give your body the chance it will adjust to any and every medication" I know how I feel taking nortriptyline, and I have gamely tried to increase the dosage and my body just doesn't tolerate it.....
Dermatologists say it's not skin related...and neurologists don't seem to care enough to find out just what is going on.........
I'm going back to sleep...
thanks to all of you who have expressed concern...

I am sorry you are so discouraged. Our Peripheral Neuropathy forum is very familiar with medical failure in helping nerve pain.
I am usually over at our PN forum, and we have learned many interventions that doctors will not offer to patients.

Your Tegretol is contributing to your fatigue, so it is understandable that you are fed up and tired.

If and when you feel like it, you are welcome to our PN forum and subforum, to learn what we have learned over the years.
We have learned to be our own medical detectives.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum20.html
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum119.html

help...i lost my most recent post and can't find it!!

Try here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1031180-15.html

If you click on your name you will find your profile.
You can click on the name in the upper right hand corner where it says "welcome".

In your profile is a tab "statistics"... and click on that and all your
posts up to 500 will be listed.

I recently developed neuropathy in my feet and I went to a podiatrist who to my shock feels it is related to the damage done to my TN nerve likely via the dentist. More than I can cope with emotionally at this moment.

I spend my time putting out neuro "fires" these days...face and feet. I've got my B12 and D3 optimized and willing to learn more.

I'm pleased with the creams I am using: RX cream for that g a w d awful TN pain and over the counter Karasal Neurocream for my feet.

I might have that neuro stim testing... Yuck!

Vowel Lady,

Sorry to hear that you are going through such a tough time. It is surprising to hear that the neuropathy in your feet is directly related to the TN and the dentist.

Keep me updated on how you are doing

Went to to neuro and he didn't mention a correlation between my facial nerve pain and new neuropathy in my feet. And I was a little nervous and forgot to ask! But, I'm having that darn nerve test in my left foot and a little higher Ina week or two. I know it's a little painful. Darn. It's just that I've been through A LOT pain wise in the last year. I'm grateful he is limiting the testing.

Hi Vowel Lady,

I hope you get some answers to what is happening with you. How is your TN doing? Are you in pain or are your meds working for you?

I was pain-free for about four months. I reduced my Amitriptyline from 40mgs to 30mgs two months ago. All was good until last week. It came back, all the familiar patterns. I have gone back to 40mgs and I think it is slowly working.

I wonder about the correlation of your nerve pain. I sometimes think I am sensitive or susceptible to nerve pain. I have problems with nerve pain in my left arm. I am left handed. About four years ago I injured my arm (not sure how or if I even did). I had nerve pain for a good month in my left arm. And that comes back if I use that arm a lot.

My mother and great-grandmother had TN. My mother has MS too. I do not have MS but I can't help but think it is all somehow related.

How is the nerve pain in your foot? Is it really painful?

Keep me updated.

Hi JANE! I'm typing from my phone, so expect typos!

For the last five years or so I've gotten really bad pelvic pain immediately following a bladder infection. I get on average 1.5 a year, but this last one was a crazy. I'm in approx my fifth o six week of bad pain. They usually last just about four weeks after the bladder inf. clears. I too am wondering about nerve damage. Today, knock on wood and lightt a candle, it seems better. It usually simply peters out, but was stronger and longer this time...and I pray I'm doing better, I've been fooled before.

Ok, as I have mentioned, I had no pain originally with my teeth and there was lots of weirdness. I ended up losing my tooth, worsening pain and was determined to have SS...an autoimmune illness

It was a difficult and long process and horrendously painful!!!!!!

My Desipramine and cream has me in a better place. I have low pain and moments if no pain. haaaaaaa. JOY!

Odd things can set it off though. Not to the full extent has before...maybe a 7 or 8. Sometimes a 9. A cold breeze is the worst. I'll try extra cream etc
On such mess ups I'll take 1/2 of a strong med and that does the trick. But I'm very careful and try my best to protect that side of my face!!!

My foot is a bit better, but I'm doing NO exercise. I'm using an OTC foot cream for PN that helps.

When I got the ATN my blood pressure went through the roof and even after much much effort and extreme med changes, it is still high, so I would like to do some exercise.

How are you coming along??????