Hi all,

If someone has been on Carbamazepine for about a week, would it be normal for them to still have trigger points?

The reason I ask is my wife's severe pain was teeth/jaw/sinus and sometimes ear, but was fairly constant. No one could find a cause so they said TN and gave carbamazepine and antiboitics for a sinus infection. One, or both of those, seemed to take the constant pain away and gradually it became localized to a single tooth that hurts when biting down (biting fairly hard, not just a gentle touch).

I was suspicious that it wasnt Carbamazepine doing anything and that an underlying infection or the process of a tooth dying have just run their natural progression and there is now a clear suspect tooth.

My question is, if it were nerve related, would the carbamazepine deal with the trigger point? Today a dentist did a cold test on the suspect tooth and one side of the tooth does not have feeling and the other side when touched with the ice produced an excrutiating pain. The dentist feels very strongly that the pain was dental in origin all along. I am just not sure if I buy it, but if the carbamazepine was working and would deal with nerve pain, perhaps this is truely dental. Thoughts?

Please, if you can, respond quickly! She is having a root canal on Monday, and regardless the dentists all believe that tooth is suspect for other reasons, not just the pain symptoms so she might as well have it delt with in a quest to relieve the discomfort.

I had the root canal, did not really help. I saw my dentist and he took xrays, he took pictures with something that I have never seen before. $$$ Not covered by our insurance of course. He used ice cubes, he thumped my teeth with an instrument of torture. Nothing helped.

The Root Canal Dr. gave me some real strong Anti-Biotics after the root canal. Nothing helped me until the Carbamazepine. My Neurologist listened to me, read my summary info and told me to start out with a small dosage (can't remember the dosage). Then I was to increase it until the pain went away. That is a rough summary. I give the Carb. the credit.

I was taking several mg a day and then the TN went away. No warning, no "so long guy" or anything, it left. The Carb. was a bit strong for me, so I just quit it.

Fast forward a few months and the TN came back. I took the Carb. and it went away. So I give the Carb. most of the credit.

I hope it is this next Monday that she is scheduled for the root canal. I would certainly tell the dentist/surgeon about the TN.

I am not sure I helped her even two cents worth, but the TN is really unpredictable for me.
I had two root canals and they were "two part" deals both times. He did half one time, then I had to go back for the completion of the Root Canal. I did not like that, but they may not have a choice.

The Air Force did a root canal on me in the 1970s, took about four hours and when they were finished, they polished the new gold cap with a chain saw. Don't laugh, if you had seen the "finish" on that tooth, you would know what I meant. My last root canal was almost totally pain free (not counting the pain in my wallet).

I hope I understood your question and answered at least part of it.

Hi, thanks for the reply.
What was/is your pain like? Is it the typical shooting/electric shock pains?
She has seen 3 dentists that are aware of the fact she is on the Carbamazepine and all 3 believe this tooth is a problem regardless.

You might want to post this question in the dental forum we have the links is .
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum89.html

Yes it would be normal to still have triggers. in fact most of us t.n. folks will live with triggers for now on. even with medication that helps.

From my experience with t.n. and getting to know others with t.n. and the different forms of t.n.
I kinda have a bad view on dentists and them wanting to "fix" to get money when the problem isnt teeth at all. And they make the problem worse .then its like i paid a doc to make this worse. and that makes me wanna tell you...
That it is great you are researching and getting as much info as you can.
and wonderful you are such a caring supportive husband. going threw all she is going threw having someone like you is exactly what she needs the most.

I have t.n. and anesthesia dolorosa I also have a neuro stimulator implanted for my face pain. I tryed all the meds and combos but nothing helped for very long ,some I am allergic to and other made me suicidal. I have had my stimulator implant for 7 years now.It saved my life ,gave me back part of my life.
Thought I would share with you a bit about me and let you know you and your wife are not alone .there are great folks here and we are all glad you found your way here .Welcome to n.t. and hope you keep us posted .This is a great place to get support and info not only in here but in the many other forums at Neuro Talk.
Keeping you and your wife in positive thoughts and my prayers.
PEACE
BMW

Wondering how things went today with your wife? I hope everything went well and the pain is gone now that she has gotten dental work done. make sure she gets extra rest..that never hurts anyone .
PEACE
BMW