I have been having symptoms of TN since January. My dentist could find nothing wrong so she sent me to a periodontist who could find nothing wrong so she sent me to a neurologist. The neurologist ordered an MRI which showed an arachnoid cyst near the Vth nerve root entry zone. My neurologist thinks this what is causing the TN and I am taking 200mg of Lyrica per day and it seems to really help for the first week or two and then I had to increase the dose to 200mg/day.

My symptoms have been primarily jaw pain that mimics a toothache sometimes in the lower jaw, sometimes in the upper jaw and sometimes further up the side of my face. I have never had the electric shock type of pain that many describe until yesterday. I was eating lunch and the pain struck so quickly and severely that I spit out the food in my mouth dropped the silverware and was stunned at the severity of the pain. It lasted about 20-30 seconds and included muscle twitching on my face. I had a couple of more episodes later in the day that were not as severe. What is odd is that today it almost seems like my jaw is sore when I bite down. Is it possible that it still could be a dental problem that has taken a 9 months to develop? I reluctantly scheduled an appointment with a neurosurgeon several weeks ago and see him on Tuesday of next week. Am I just grasping at straws hoping that its a dental problem? Has anyone else had similar soreness after a severe episode?

I will say this, I now understand the intensity of the electric shock pain that others have described. If this is TN and I face that kind of pain in the future, I am going to need some very strong drugs.

welcome to neurotalk sorry to hear of your pains.I would say it sounds like T.N. and I have had that type of shock and sorness afterword. heck I am a big spoon fan as i had that eatting thing happen more then once and hate silverwear. like sticking a fork in a socket.. a big turn off. I FREZZE like my whole body got zapped but it is just the shock of it ...afraid to move.
Jean and others have posted some great info bless them!and the book striking back is like the bible for t.n. also stickies at the top here, read those too. I will p.m. you some links too.
there are a bunch of meds to help controll this and also surgeries . you will have to find the right med or combo of meds and dosage that is right for you as we are all diffrent and have diffrent types of facial pain.
I am waiting to see a new doc about my neuro stim implant I go in oct. and nervous as ever being a new doc as I had some bad docs in past.
anyways you will meet some helpfull folks and hopefully make some new pals.
and good friends and family are just as importion as the meds to deal with this.
I will have you in my thoughts for a good dx. and quickly finding controll. many blessings .. and check your box for the links.
Peace
BMW

I have thoracic outlet syndrome which includes (for me) the type of pain you are discussing, plus neck, shoulder, arm, hand and some other neuro symptoms.

The reason I am writing is about Lyrica.

Within three months of taking Lyrica I developed high blood sugar of 500 (normal is 100 or less) and after 6 months I gained 50 lbs. out of eating almost nothing. I stopped it, lost 60 lbs. immediately, but I am now diabetic, as I believe, a direct result of Lyrica.

I have to test twice a day, take meds, eat differently, etc. For 47 years I had perfect blood sugar, and then within 3 months, the side effect listed by Lyrica happened to me. I now find that I am far from alone in those that have developed diabetes, but the doctors won't admit it, for obvious reasons.

Also, Lyrica did nothing for my nerve condition.

So be careful, take your blood sugar faithfully via blood work, as well as liver, which also went with raised enzymes - and watch to see if you have any weight gain.

God bless you in your search for a cure for TN.

A neighbor used neurontin and her symptoms resolved within 6 months, but as you point out, there can be so many factors of causation that investigation is a very important tool.

Some interesting and informative reading about TN:

http://facial-neuralgia.org/conditions/tn.html