Hi guys,
For the past two months I've suffered with pain which seemed to stem from a crown I had previously had a crown and two root canals on. I also had a strange dull sensastion across my jaw and cheek, sometimes turning into tingling. After 5 dentists, and seemingly no explanation why I was having the pain, my current (excellent) dentist now strongly believes it's a form of neuralgia. I had the offending tooth taken out so the tooth pain has gone but I'm still left with the sensation across my cheek and jaw, which sometimes also manifests itself as slight sensitivity in surrounding teeth. I don't have the sharp, shooting pain associated with TN however. It's more a constant dull ache.
Any others out there in the same boat with me and can share advice etc.? I'm a Brit currently living in Tanzania, so not a lot of specialists out here!
Cheers,
Adam
Hi Adam,
I have only being diagnosed with TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) for about 2-3 months now, so. I am fairly new to the TN condition.
When I first started feeling the first pain symptoms, I also thought “it was a tooth problem,” but; when the pain started to increase its intensity and it became more intolerable, I started to panic. At first; I thought it could be my eyes… I thought that because, I spend a lot of time behind a computer at my job, that perhaps I had stressed my eyes out, and that was why I was having that pain, since it starts at the inner part of my left eye and travels up like a shooting staving sensation through my eye, ending in the top of my left side of my skull. So I made an appointment with the ophthalmologist, only to be told that there is nothing wrong with my eyes. I went to my Doctor, and he mentioned that I could possible may have TN. After an MRI and a visit to a Neurologist, It was confirmed that I have TN.
I started with 200mg Tegretol, or (Carbamazepine), and in less than 4 months my after being diagnosed with TN I am now at 600mg every 12 hours… And for some forsaken reason, still “it does not take my pain away completely,” I still get some pain during eating, brushing my teeth and when I first wake up. Is a terrible thing to have for anyone.
I hope you are not diagnosed with it.
Have a wonderful day.
Hi Tony,
Very sorry to hear you're having a hard time of it. The feeling is always there for me at the minute, and a couple of times a day it will get very uncomfortable. I don't have the shooting sensation which is a bonus as it sounds terrible. I am about to climb Africa's ninth highest mountain so not taking any meds at the moment, but my doctor wants to start me on Gabapentin when I get back. I hope it makes a difference!
Hi Adam,
Sorry you're having a bad time. I personally didn't have your problem with dental treatment etc. mine started with a stinging, tingling sensation on my tongue then I got the electric shocks through my teeth etc. occasionally I would have the pain in my right temple and in the back of my eye.
I was eventually put on 1200mg three times daily after food. It didn't quite take the whole pain away so I was prescribed Amitriptyline at night and that did the trick.
Are you on any medication?
Gloriana
Not yet, but will start on Gabapentin next week. I will ask about the Amitriptyline too. Reading some of the other posts I feel pretty lucky, because I can get through the day pretty easily with only some slight discomfort from time to time. My heart goes out to those who are having such a rough time!
Sorry Adam that should have read 1200mg a day taken 3 x daily lol
Hi Tony,
Ive read your message and note you are taking 600mg twice a day. I was on 1200mg a day but didn't relieve the pain 100% so my Dr prescribed me Amitriptyline at night and I was fine. Ask your Dr if he can put you on these and see how you get on.
Hey Adam .Dont worry about your TN till you conquer the mountain and return to ground safely.I'm sure all will be well,tho' you might have painkillers in case, as you can get a bit of breakthrough pain while dose is being adjusted to the level you need.Best wishes
Hi Adam,Four months along.....and how are you doing?I suffer from Atypical Odonalgia.At the moment I am medication free and am dealing with it by ice packs,trying not to get too tired or stressed.I have some pain free days.My main reason for coming off medication were the side effects.However I am now feeling the need to go back to the doctor to discuss yet another medication .......really nervous!
Hi Adam,
I'm going through this at the moment. I'm on amitripyline 150mg but I'm not sure it's doing anything. My tooth problems started after a dentist perforated my sinus during a routine procedure. This started a massive sinus infection for which I needed surgery. I had the tooth removed and then all hell broke loose. I have been in agony for 7 months. My only relief being very strong painkillers when I can't sleep. How are you now? Has it improved? Does anyone know if this ever goes away?
Adam I have Atypical Ondontalgia self diagnosed as gave up on do ctors and dentist after having 2 good teeth removed because of pain in first one which moved to next one after it was removed so got 2nd one out only for pain to move into next tooth my dentist said she won't remove any more teeth as they were good teeth I had removed. I began looking online for a diagnosis and came across AO and it's my symptoms to a T. I've had Gabapentin and Pregablin neither of which helped and really hard to get off must wean very slowly. I hope you have more joy than I did Adam maybe your pain symptoms are different from mine I hope so.
I too gave up on meds not because of side effects but because no relief given I never get a pain free day but do when I'm asleep. My doctor said on my last visit many months ago that it will jys go away one day just like it came..yeah have it now about 10 years with no let up. Ice is good numbs it I eat ice lollies for that reason and use Oragel as it numbs too but doesn't last long and there only small tubes.
Hello Maureen,What meds were you on? I'm actually have decided to up the very small dose of pregabalin that I'm on.Im quite fearful of medications but I think that came about from an awful withdrawal process that I went through from a med a few years ago.I know there are lots of combinations out there that work for a lot of people.I haven't as yet had a medic who has worked with me to guide me through these myriads ofmmeds.Anyway I hope today wasn't a too bad a day!
I'm on a few meds but none for the AO as tried what your on and was no good for me no effect at all plus tried Gabapentin with no result either. I've just read that Ampitripaline is the med for it but I can't take it as I'm on Lithium for bipolar I also take Lamictal and Sertraline antidepressants for the low mood of bipolar lithium is for the mania as is a mood stabiliser. I'm at wits end as have this tooth pain every for past 10 years it's woeful.
Oh Stephanie you say at 150mg Ampitripaline doesn't work for you now that's really burst my hope of it..not that I can have it any way due to taking lithium but had hoped maybe at a low dose I could do if my psychiatrist allowed me too.
You talk about having it months well I'm 10 years down the track with and my GP just said on last appt it'll go away one day so I can't go back to him after saying that as obviously he diesnt know what to give me to help. It's only by research myself that I may God willing come across something that will help. If you find a cure please please put it on here asap.
I take daily Sertaline Lamictal for the low mood of bipolar also Lithium mood stabiliser for the high mood to keep it from happening plus Thyroxine for under active thyroid. I've said I've been on Gabapentin and Pregablin both did nothing. I too went through bad withdrawal from Pregablin had to go back up again and do it over months to get of it as it made me very anxious at lower dose and that wasn't what I was taking it for it was for my tooth pain. I'm thinking there's nothing out there that can help and no physician either knows enough about it to help. I have pain everyday for past 10 years began with burning mouth syndrome and developed into AO in a few months..I had a back tooth wisdom one extracted and I think that must have triggered it off as it's said dental work does. I've had 2 other teeth extracted also beside where that wisdom tooth was because of pain shift with no relief either also had Radio frequency carried out by a specialist in that field but wrong nerve was burden off which has left side of my face slightly numb but that's nothing compared to AO. Hope the Gabapentin works for you as God made us all different.
Hi Maureen I took nortripyline which is sister drug to amtripyline and it didn't work either.Have you looked on Living with TN site as there is masses of info there on meds.
Ive been going through some phantom tooth pain since last friday and I have been in pure agony. I had 4 teeth pulled a few months ago and one of the sites just started throbbing out of no wherre and hasnt let up. I took some norcos at bedtime so i could sleep but it still hurts in the morning. It seems to radiate to the upper right side of my head as a headache and I'm scared it might be something worse. Im only 19 and i dont want to live my life in pain . Please if you have any info send it my way
I have looked at those sites but TN is not the same as OT it is in the teeth or gums TN is facial pain.
Both caused by neurolgia though.
Sorry for delay in reply please excuse that, been caravanning in our tourer helps take the mind to other places away from OT.
Hi did ur pain go away on amitryptiline