Hi folks, I'm new to this forum and have some questions. I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia but I'm not sure my symptoms fit with the descriptions most of you talk about. My symptoms have been going on for three years. I have numbness and a pressure feeling in my face and head on the left side. I also have sciatica in my left leg and buttocks, but that has been with me for 10-12 years. They seem connected. The pain in my head and face have just started in the last year and that is bearable when I'm up but hurts too much when my head is on a pillow to be able to sleep much. That has been for more than a month. I have not had the kind of pain that is supposed to go with TN. Also, my biggest symptom is a loss of balance. I have an unsteady feeling always and sometimes I feel like I am being pulled over to my left side and forward. Then each step I take pulls me down again until I reach something to help me straighten up.
I was diagnosed by a neurologist after having a brain MRI. He ruled out brain tumor and ear tumor and MS from looking at the MRI results. I think he meant that his diagnosis was based on the fact that that was all that was left. IDK though. The neurologist prescribed Neurontin but I haven't taken it yet. Does anyone know if I could have any of those things he ruled out? Would it help for me to go to an ENT since it seems like an ear tumor? I have multiple chemical sensitivity and would be afraid to get an MRI with contrast dye. I also have electromagnetic hypersensitivity and had to quit using a cell phone. I'm quite sure I have mercury toxicity but the neurologist said that I do not have that b/c it would have shown up on the MRI. Does anyone know if that is true? I am thinking of trying Upper Cervical Chiropractic. That seems like it would help me b/c my posture has been horrible for several years due to my sciatica causing so much pain that I have been sitting on the couch in a position to relieve the pain and it caused my head to be bent over. My MRI also said 'small vessel ischemia' on the description I received. I'm sorry this is so long. I just hope someone has some insight into my particular situation. Thank you.

Hi Patz42,

I would not like to second guess a qualified Neuro who has examined you and seen your MRIs, but I would classify you as having Neuropathic Facial Pain rather than TN. Perhaps it is just a matter of terminology on his part.

I would not worry about tumours if none showed up on your MRI. Chances of them being missed are so small it is not worth worrying about.

You could, and should in my opinion, get a second opinion regarding the balance issues. There is possibly something unrelated going on.

Dave.

Thank you so much for answering my post. I just want to be sure that I DO NOT have trigeminal neuralgia b/c of that disease having the symptom of such awful pain. But I guess I still have lot to figure out. It isn't very likely at all that my balance issues are unrelated to my head and face pain. It is the same feeling going through my whole left side.

Thanks for your reply.

p