I asked this a while ago but I think Im still confused
I was told I had Atypical Face Pain. Is that the same as Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia ?
That depends on what doctor you are seeing and what their specialty is!! They are supposed to be the same, but there is alot of confusion among neurologists and facial pain specialists. I have been diagnosed myself with both, depending on the doctor. Now a new neurologists says there is no such thing as either one. You will have to read my thread about a new doctor and a new diagnosis. I'm as confused as you are and really tired of all this terminology trying to classify what is a "pain in the facial area". Who cares what everyone is trying to name it. Having a "name" does not make the pain go away and does not distinguish which drugs work for each individual.
"Atypical Face Pain" is a garbage diagnosis roughly equivalent to "be damned if I know". According to the TN Association Medical Advisory Board, AFP translates as "facial pain of obscure origins". It is also clearly NOT a psychosomatic disorder as some medical authority figures and psychologists have ignorantly labeled it. Try a search on "AFP" in our search window at the top right of this page. Likewise, open the "Face Pain Info" tab and read the article on that subject in the info index.
Regards and Best,
Red