Very interesting story SimpleLife. Isn't it amazing how a supposed simple routine filling can trigger things to get so much worse!!!!! So, what does this new local dentist do that is so different from the previous one? Do you think it is the nitrate oxide that makes the world of difference? Is this nitrous oxide the same as twilight anastesia (I never know how to spell that dang word, lol) or is nitrous oxide the laughing gas.? I had the laughing gas while I was getting the upper molar extracted that caused the nerve damage in the first place...Had I only known what was happening in that moment, I wouldn't have been so calm and cool about things.....anyways, thanks for sharing your story!!! Elvera
SimpleLife said:
I can relate to all of this completely, and I too will read the articles and all of these recent and historical postings to learn from them. I am a new member to this website. Bless all of our hearts.
I've had ATN for 20 years, misdiagnosed for the first 4. The consensus was that my ATN was probably caused by a virus, could have been shingles, my father came down with shingles on the same side of the face 2 years ago at age 83 ... now he has the same pain issues that I do, SO sad and upsetting to me, but maybe we have some genetic predisposition to this in our family tree, we'll never know.
I had to really search to find a local dentist with an understanding of neurological issues of the head, in addition to offering nitrous oxide. I found a wonderful dentist trained in the Navy 3 years ago who is very empathetic to my problem. In addition my hygenist who works for him has a daughter with a neurological disorder so she is also very sensitive. We had a long consultation before I actually sat in the chair for the first time. I have had the nitrous oxide once so far, for a crown on a back left lower molar, no root canal needed thank goodness. My ATN on the bad days affects both my right jaw upper and lower, all the way up to my eye. On normal days it is just my upper right jaw.
Going back about 7 years, my ATN had been relatively calm for several years, relatively well managed by my meds and my lifestyle, when I needed my back upper right molar cavity refilled. That was December 2009, and my ATN was absolutely, positively, without question, 100% ---> long-term re-aggravated by having had that particular tooth refilled. That was before I changed to my current dentist.
So 4 years later I'm back doing relatively okay, my pain relatively well managed by my meds and calm lifestyle, and my new dentist is great, but if I were told that I had to have any more dental work done on the right side I don't know what decision I would make. I ended up having 2 teeth pulled unnecessarily, after multiple root canals and oral surgeries, on that side that I never had replaced, between 20 years ago and 16 years ago ...
So I understand completely. Bless all of our hearts :-)
wow, what a crazy journey you have been on. Have you ever met any one else who had nerve issues, etc because the tip of the needle broke off? Was it ever figured out if there was something wrong with the needle itself, or if the dentist used an improper technique? lol, please tell the oral surgeon that he should still be monitoring my condition. He doesn't care, he just doesn't want me to sue him, that's all he cares about... When I came back to him and said, I still feel some numbness, could it be I have some nerve damage, he taps me on the OUTside of my cheek and goes , can you feel that? then he goes, "well it maybe happened when I gave you the shot (which he gave me 2 shots btw, cuz it was still hurting after the one), but everything else looks really good so have a nice day" as he is walking backwards tring to get out of the room in 2 secs... I complained to the dentist who referred me to him and she in turn complained to her friend, another oral surgeon who worked in the same office, and he saw me again and he took further xrays and said, well, nothing was left behind, like, no tooth particle is still in there or anything, he goes at this point, you just now have what is called facial pain disorder and you need to see a neurologist and they will give you meds that will control all your symptoms" then I read that oral surgeons can fix nerve damage , so I went to Illinois to see this very renowned oral surgeon who does nerve damage repair micro surgery. his name is Mark Steinberg and it turns out , yes, they can fix a lot of nerve damage stuff if it is caught early enough in the lower jaw or lower tooth area.... but upper teeth and upper jaw? no oral surgeon does anything.... its just a wait and see thing at that point I was told, and hope it doesn't get worse...then I was told also, oh, things things usually go away in a year..... I hate that sentence... because I believed it iniatially. then the neurosurgeon I saw who is a leader in this area, dr. casey, he told me that someone should have put me on trigeminal neuropathy meds right away after the first sign of numbness and symptoms to keep that trigeminal nerve calm and not firing.... anyways, thanks for listening Cleo... I knew a neighbor friend who had a cat named Cleo and she was awesome!!!!
Cleo said:
Yes 13 + years is correct.. Mine began as 24/7 torture which stuck around for several medicated years. I still have 24/7 numbness in my tongue. but its not burning and shocking me constantly and it doesn't feel twisted out of place anymore. my 4 teeth feel crushed together but that part is more annoying than painful these days. As a rule I get my teeth cleaned 2 times a year and I've still had to have 2 crowns and 2 filling since. In my case I've never had any further nerve disturbances occur during dental work. thank god! The dentist/OS that did this to you should still be monitoring your condition! who sent you to a neurologist?
Scared & Angry gal said:
Thanks so much Cleo. So this happened to you 13-14 yrs ago? It will be just a yr for me, this coming March 25. I keep on thinking with every dental procedure I get, it will aggravate the trigeminal nerve more and make it much worse through time, until 13-14 yrs from now I will be in tremendous pain 24/7. How have you handled this journey? Are you taking meds? Which one(s)?Has the pain gotten worse for you over the years? I am still trying to find a good local neurologist, I saw a great one out of state, but now I need to find one more locally as well.