I have been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, I had severe pain in my right side of face pressured head, sore mouth and sore nose on and off for 4 months.
Originally was prescribed 2 doses of antibiotics for sinusites which didn't help at all.
I don't like dentists so was avoiding them until I got a lump in my neck which said could be tooth abscess. I went to the dentist for an x ray and he said he wanted to take my wisdom tooth out which could be the reason for all my pain. Also he said the lump was nothing to do with him and I need to see my doctor.
3 days later with my wisdom tooth out, I am still in pain from the injections, still have a headache.
I don't know whether I actually have TN or not. I don't want to keep pestering the doctors.
So has anybody else had problems like this? Can TN cause the lymph nodes to swell?
Katrina, you don't pester doctors,you pay them for their services,,as members of the medical field/profession they are there to help you. Get your self in and get a professional medical opinion on that lump.True it could not be TN but somethin g else that needs attention.
dick
thanks for the reply dick, if the lump hasnt gone by monday i will go to them.. love to just get a proper diagnosis, dont no why the doctor would diagnose without knowing for definite!
Can you see another doctor? Doesn't seem as if he was confident.If you have TN you will know it. Touch your face and you bring on a series of short sharp pain like electricity. Of course any doc should be able to give 2 diagnoses..,Get him into gear! Best wishes
Cancer can be a lump in the neck which shows up as a primary cause elsewhere in the body but your MRI will confirm it may not be. Gladular fever can cause it or fat lump. Keep pestering your doctor that's why they are paid hundred grand a year for. Doesn't sound like TN to me.
Hi Katrina, Even My Father also faced same situation ,initially he also suffering from teeth pain where my local doctores thought that might be the pain caused by wisdom teeth so they removed my Dad's Wisdom teeth but the pain did not go away and increased more.so my Suggestion is consult Neurologist and confirm it.
Hello Katrina
Can you help with a few more details please, so I can make some constructive comments?
Firstly, who diagnosed you with TN and why?
Secondly, what treatment/advice were you given about its management?
The lump in your neck will have nothing to do with TN but clearly needs attending too.
It could be a swollen lymph node, depending on its position, but it sounds a more of a permanent structure from the way you describe it.You also mention sinusitis and antibiotics - where does that fit into the scenario and has that cleared up?
Very few people like going to the dentist, me included, but they have a job to do and are well worth having on your side. See them as an ally - part of your team!
Others have commented about 'pestering' your GP. This is the wrong approach. If you're concerned about your health, that's what they're for - it's the job they are trained to do. Stay focussed on one aspect of your health, namely the lump. I can't imagine any GP being casual or disinterested in what might be a growth in your neck.
What diagnosis have you been given regarding this? By the way, your dentist is quite right to refer you to your GP. Use them both to your advantage and keep us posted.
Best wishes Colin
Hi Colin,
Thanks for your reply.
From January I had only been dealing with doctors over the phone. (I suffer from anxiety) So they had been prescribing me for sinustitus thinking that's what it was. When I finally went to the doctor he checked me out and made this discovery of TN.
I am now on tablets sorry I'm not sure the name at the moment they are also used for epilepsy?
They seem to be keeping pain to a minimum.
So after about a week or 2 on these tablets I got a lump on my neck.
Online I read that swollen lymph nodes could be caused by a tooth abscess. So because I am not sure for definite if I have TN I thought I would phone the dentist.
Anyway got my wisdom tooth out on Monday and still in pain from the injections and having bad headaches.
Just feel like a total wreck! Have had the lump from Sunday so 5 days. Waiting until Monday if it has not gone by then I will phone the doctor.
Sorry for my rambling on! Maybe someone else has had the same issues.
Hello Katrina
Thank you, that all makes sense.
Clearly you will have to see your GP soon, unless the lump subsides over the weekend.
I haven't any experience of such a set of circumstances but when you see the GP, stay focussed on that one issue and go with a positive attitude. - this person is here to help me and I need to help them make the correct diagnosis or refer me to someone who can.
Too often people rubbish their GP and only complain about how much money they're earning etc. There are many individuals in our society who contribute nothing but earn much more than GPs.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with cancer and the best advice I was given was to see all the people who were involved with my case, as part of my team with me in the centre, in control.
Sorry, gone on a bit, haven't I.
Good luck with the lump and your GP.
Colin
PS The drug you mentioned is almost certainly Tegretol - it's a good drug.
Hi, I've been suffering with a constant headache now for nearly 10 month, dental hospital suspect TN2 but amitriptyline and tegretol made pain worse. I have just had a root canal on a suspected tooth which has to be finished this Friday and the pain is still here. I have a swollen gland in rhs of neck and I'm on Naproxen which seems to be helping a little with the pain. It suggests it is my teeth as naproxen fights inflammation but, I have suffered also with electric shocks. I don't get worried about doctor, if I'm not there I'm at the dentist. They're both blaming each other. Keep hassling, that's what I say. Good luck
I went again about the lumps but everything is normal, this new doc just said trigeminal neuralgia is the name of the nerves and made no big deal out of it.. When I was experiencing the pain it was an excruciating pain I was nearly phoning an ambulance. No tablets were working either but I don't remember having the sharp pain when it was touched. It was more a constant pain all over the right hand side. teeth, gums, head and nose throbbing. I just cried until it eased and it lasted for a week and then I was put on the TN tablets and haven't had pain like that since.
Hi, sorry to hear about your pain, it really does bring you down especially not actually knowing what it is!
Im on tegretol but weaning myself off it now and hopefully the pain will stay away.
I am still getting headaches every day which is annoying, I went to the doc about my lump and she just said its a few swollen lymph nodes which is all normal.
My dentist thought getting my tooth out could be the whole issue of my pain but Im not sure, good luck for Friday at the dentist!
Hi,
Did you father get sorted? How long ago did he get his tooth out?
Fingers x'd for you too
It's a never ending round of waiting
good Luck
I found the headaches are side effects from the meds.
Hi Katrina,
I had a wisdom tooth removed last June and at the end of Jan this year i started to get a heavyness in my right cheek with stabbing like pain, then came the pins and needless along my cheek to the tip of my nose, my forhead and down my jawbone i sometimes feel these in my upper lip too. I also get flushing on the right side of my face. The headaches are horrendous they are like electric currents and reduce me to tears, I cant do anything and lying down is the worst as it feels like my skull is being crushed.
You will notice i just posted today that my GP called a neuroligist and just with a chat on the phone with him he wasnt convinced that i am suffering from Atypical TN but is unsure why i am having these problems so suggested she put me in for a refferal.
All i can say is KEEP going back and pester the doctor, thats what they are there for. You know your own body and you know when you dont feel right. I feel a little like you that i am wasting their time but all i want to know is what is causing this with me.
Thinking of you Amanda
Hi Amanda
I cannot think of a way that having a wisdom tooth removed could start TN however it sounds like something might have caused nerve damage during the procedure - only 'might'! It would be interesting to explore this more.
Take care
Colin
Hi Colin,
I'd try and explain everything that has happened with me and with regards to my teeth - but i would end up with a long lengthy response.
My problems started 2-3 years ago with electric shocks in my teeth i tought this was toothache so attended the dentist it has just went downhill from then if i am honest.
I've been doing alot of research on TN this does typically start with
"The initial attack of the horrendous pain is like a lightning bolt, not only in the sudden manner in which it strikes but also because it feels like an electric shock. The first port of call for the stunned sufferer is usually the dentist – despite the fact that the pain feels totally unlike the ‘conventional’ throb of toothache. But because the trigeminal nerve endings link to each tooth, the source of the pain seems to emanate from the teeth."
I dont know how you could say (as no one knows for definate) that having a wisdom tooth or any tooth removed might not cause TN as to quote the paragraph above - trigeminal nerve endings link to each tooth.
I will keep pressing my GP as what i have experienced over the past few months is not normal. You can never say NEVER!!
Regards
Amanda
Hi Amanda
Please forgive me, you are absolutely right, of course. The trigeminal nerve does have branches that locate near the teeth and extraction can damage the nerve with pain indistinguishable from the pain caused by the classic causes of TN, namely artery/nerve interference. The pain - just as acute as that experienced by chronic TN - should subside with time.
It's a very 'interesting' and confusing area of medicine and my knowledge primarily comes from research, like yours.
I'm going through a very challenging time with my TN, at this moment in time and am aware that it's going to get slowly worse. I hope yours is only temporary, my friend - life is no fun when we're in pain, is it!
Thanks for your feedback and best wishes. Colin
Hi Colin,
Im sorry to hear you are having a challenging time - how did your TN start?
I hope you are getting the support you need from professionals and family.
Amanda