[Catch]

I have been having pain mostly at the front of my ear, and if you touch my ear, just above the lobe, it is extremely tender. I have had this off and on for more than 2 years. I also have pain above a couple of my teeth. This pain has been ongoing off and on for nearly 20 years (it really helps me weed out dentists who want to tell me I have a cavity there). I also have sharp pains in my eye. 90% of my pain is on my right side only. Although just lately, my eye pain is in both eyes. And my right eye feels as if it bulges further out than the left today. Also my vision today is blurry.

I have MS and just saw my neuro and discussed this with her. She said there was nothing in my test results to indicate this pain has anything to do with my MS, but she was going to refer me to a "head and neck" dr.

The pain is not excrutiating, but more of a dull burning ache. These attacks used to be short in duration of a few minutes with months between, now last for days and come about every 3 weeks or so.

It doesn't really sound like typical TN. But curious what some of you may think about it. I'll be getting my referral soon and hope to see the dr in March, but until then, I'm just wondering.

[Burntmarshmallow]

I can only speak for myself and say my pain is in lower jaw and inside mouth and lower lip. I have heard of others who do get eye pain and ear pain with their t.n. as it is in a diffrent region then mine. we all are different . I need to ask since you mentioned it comes every 3 weeks or so not tryin to be nosy or anything but dose it worsen when it is near your monthly visit from "aunt flo"?
also you said you asked your doc if it was to do with your m.s. did you also ask them about it being t.n.? if so what did they tell you?
anyways I wanted to post back and tell you that yes others do get eye pain and ear can be affected. some hear odd sounds like whooshing. remember I am not a doctor or pro of any kind and that is who can best answer your questions. maybe another will post a better answer then I can give you. maybe it is p.n. and not t.n. ha just more to wonder about sorry on that.
I wish you a low pain happy weekend . I hope another posts back to you besides me.
Peace
BMW

[Catch]

Thanks for your response, BMW, but no, I haven't noticed any relation to my cycle. I haven't really sat down with a calendar either, but I just know I get this pain much more frequently now. And when I look into TN and how it can progress I can remember this tooth pain coming and going for almost 20 years. It has grown more frequent, and then the ear pain started, and now with the eye pain.

I didn't mention TN to my neuro, I kinda assumed she'd figure that out for herself if she thought it was, but after I left her office I began to wonder. She was very rushed and only saw me for 10 minutes. She did look in my ear and didn't see anything to indicate any infection or inflamation.

I do know this could be almost anything. It may even be some sort of sinus thing--wouldn't that be easy?

[Burntmarshmallow]

oh gosh yes a sinus thing would be a blessing.
you should mention T.N. to your neuro. at the least it will show that you have been researching on your own and that you are not clueless. it could be optical neuralgia or P.N. I pray it is not any type of neuralgia at all . yes let it be something simple and easy to fix!!!!! If you need to chat or anything you can private message me anytime. next time you go to your neuro have a written list of questions heck bring one when you go to that head and neck doc. too. write down things like when the pain comes and what it feels like or anything you notice that starts the pain, and include questions you have. that way if the doc dose not have time they can read it and get back to you and it will be in your file. and good to write it cus when you go to doctors you always forget the things you want to ask or mention.
I will keeping you in my prayers Catch.
Peace and Love
BMW

[Bassetcase]

Hi, sad to hear you have this pain, but sort of glad to hear someone use the same description as I did. Go back and look for my posts from the start and see what I had to say - and the diagnosis. I still have a difficult time accepting that I have TN because - Thank God it is still so sporadic.

Have you tried applying heat to your ear? This helps me more than anything.

Good Luck!

Rhonda

[Needanuface]

I have a facial nerve injury which means TN and PN in my neck. When TN hits me it hits hard-down the side of my face from temple to the bottom of my lip on one side, like a lightning bolt. Under my eye somewhat, zaps the side of my nose, then the tip of my lip, my forehead, and then it's over-until it does it again. Harder, like lightning, two or three times. Lately I've been getting a pain next to my eyeball, then one that feels like it's in my eyeball, then the rest of it hits-those are bad. Years ago it started in my ear-it felt like someone stabbed me. I also get it on the other side but it's not as harsh, just rather down the side a bit and that's it. I get sinus infections and that seems to make it worse, as does a cold. Cold weather does, too-I was practically housebound this winter because of it.

As for Aunt Flo? She hasn't visited me in so long she's forgotten where I live!

[Bassetcase]

Well that was discouraging - , but glad you added your two cents. I havn't found anyone else who said the pain started in their ear, and so sorry to hear that your pain has escalated to where it is now. Does anything help the pain?

Mine started about 7 or 8 years ago. It has not gotten much worse since I was diagnosed last spring, and I only take the tegretol when I have an attack. It takes a while to kick in, but eventually does stop hurting. Of course, when I get home I apply heat to that side of my face and it eases the pain more. I have hoped that my pain will not advance to the level that most of you on here are experiencing, but also keep in the back of my mind that it could happen. I currently work full time with a 100 mile daily commute (round trip) and don't want to start taking the meds on a daily basis until my attacks are more frequent. I work in hotel accounting and I understand from all the posts on here that the meds will effect your memory and I can not afford for that to happen as long as I can endure the sporadic attacks as they are now. Mine too are more frequent with sinus/allergy symptoms. Had to fight with my insurance to keep paying for my allergy meds.

Thanks for enlightening me - I will try not to let my guard down.

Ditto on Aunt Flo.

[Burntmarshmallow]

I can not wait for my aunt to become forgetful and not remember her way to my house
One less thing is a good thing in that area!!
Medications side effects are different with each person so don't worry until you need to, and once your body adjusts to the med the side effects can lessen and not be a factor at all . So keep trying Till you find what is best for you. all the best and many pain free days wished for yous.
Peace to you both.
BMW

[Catch]

Thanks Basset for your confirmation of my symptoms (possibly) being TN, albeit, atypical. According to some research I've done (including the excellent sites mentioned) I'm pretty sure mine is atypical TN caused by MS. Why my neurologist didn't recognize it is a question I'll have to ask when I see her next month. Moist heat does really help, and while I wouldn't recommend it, so does smoking MJ. I was hurting so bad one night I asked my son for a toke off his pipe and was surprised at the results. The relief tends to last longer than if I take ibuprofin, too, and I have to take 800-1000 mg of that!

The drag is, the pain has been almost continuous. Other than a few hours here and there, and when I'm sleeping, I have had pain of varying degrees since February 13. More and more I also feel it on my left side, though not constantly, and not as severe.

At least it's only a minor constant pain. Hope it doesn't get any worse.