A few months ago I began to experience shooting pain that felt like a tuning fork on the left side of my face. It happened a few times a day. I went to 2 dentists who took xrays (one took a panorex) and could not find anything abnormal. As time went on, I began to get these pains when I moved my face a certain way, such as when rubbing my cheek when applying makeup, or when blowing my nose and pushing the nose up on the left side. The pains felt like someone was hitting a tuning fork against my teeth. They only lasted a second or two.
On Tuesday evening I had a horrific episode. I don't remember what triggered it, but it felt like someone put live electric wires in to my face. The searing pain lasted about 10 seconds, followed by intense throbbing for about 2 minutes. The throbbing was centralized over a molar that has a crown on it. After this episode, I was wiped out. On Wed. morning I had the same experience after I got out of the shower and was drying my face with the towel. I went back to the dentist and he banged on my teeth - nothing. He poked and prodded and nothing. But when I began to talk to him and moved my mouth a certain way I had the pain again that almost made me faint. It was good that he was able to see it, but he said he really doesn't think it's a tooth problem. He said there may be an infection low in the sinus that is causing pressure. He gave me Augmentin and told me if the roots were infected the med would take care of that also. After I left his office I had about 12 more episodes, one after the other, with the throbbing lasting for hours. I called him, and he called me in Vicodin which I took but it really doesn't work because the pain is episodic and really severe. He mentioned neuraglia. Yesterday I had 3 episodes of the pain, and I am learning not to touch my face or open wide to eat or talk. Each episode was as severe as the previous. This morning I had an episode in the shower when the water ran across my left cheek! I called my primary who told me to see a neurologist to rule out trigeminal neuraglia. I have an appt. for Tuesday afternoon. In the meantime, I am trying not to talk or move my mouth. I am tempted to insist that the dentist pull the tooth I think is the culprit just in case it is that. He is reluctant because he thinks the tooth may not be the cause. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with anything like this. Any information would be appreciated. I have a high tolerance for pain, and I am at my wit's end here! Thanks in advance - Jacki
On Tuesday evening I had a horrific episode. I don't remember what triggered it, but it felt like someone put live electric wires in to my face. The searing pain lasted about 10 seconds, followed by intense throbbing for about 2 minutes. The throbbing was centralized over a molar that has a crown on it. After this episode, I was wiped out. On Wed. morning I had the same experience after I got out of the shower and was drying my face with the towel. I went back to the dentist and he banged on my teeth - nothing. He poked and prodded and nothing. But when I began to talk to him and moved my mouth a certain way I had the pain again that almost made me faint. It was good that he was able to see it, but he said he really doesn't think it's a tooth problem. He said there may be an infection low in the sinus that is causing pressure. He gave me Augmentin and told me if the roots were infected the med would take care of that also. After I left his office I had about 12 more episodes, one after the other, with the throbbing lasting for hours. I called him, and he called me in Vicodin which I took but it really doesn't work because the pain is episodic and really severe. He mentioned neuraglia. Yesterday I had 3 episodes of the pain, and I am learning not to touch my face or open wide to eat or talk. Each episode was as severe as the previous. This morning I had an episode in the shower when the water ran across my left cheek! I called my primary who told me to see a neurologist to rule out trigeminal neuraglia. I have an appt. for Tuesday afternoon. In the meantime, I am trying not to talk or move my mouth. I am tempted to insist that the dentist pull the tooth I think is the culprit just in case it is that. He is reluctant because he thinks the tooth may not be the cause. I am wondering if anyone has any experience with anything like this. Any information would be appreciated. I have a high tolerance for pain, and I am at my wit's end here! Thanks in advance - Jacki
Comment