Hi Robyn,
I am so sorry to hear about the pain and everything you have been going through. My TN also started after having my wisdom teeth removed. In all the research I have done I have not been able to find a definitive explanation for each and every case of this condition. It seems as though each case can be rather unique, and some do begin following dental work. All I can say is try to stay positive, and continue to seek good professional help. My sister is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and suggested I find both a good oral surgeon and a good neurologist. I have seen two oral surgeons and two neurologist thus far and neither could offer a good explanation as to what is causing the pain I am experiencing . I am going to continue to look for a doctor who can offer a good explanation and a great course of treatment. In my case I am not %100 sure my pain was caused by the operation I underwent. Post operation I noticed my tongue was feeling numb a couple weeks later. Four years later the pain is now chronic, acute and seems to be getting worse as time goes on. This leaves me wondering if my worsening condition was caused by my operation. I hope my answer and experience is able to help you in some way. I also hope your treatment goes well and you are able to get the pain under control.
I did not have a root canal or teeth pulled. I went in for a simple cleaning and exam. Several days later I had TN. In my mind, the two have always been related. Unfortunately, tomorrow I have to go to the dentist to have a new splint fabricated (for TMJ which I have had for years). I dread it!
Yes! I had dental work two months ago (a root canal) and that is when the pain began. It actually started as bilateral tingling and turned into pain a week later. I now have extreme facial pain, especially in my lower jaw and chin. I have been to every flavor of dr with very little satisfaction. I am on Lyrica and that has been helpful, but I continue to struggle with the treatment, diagnosis, etc. I am quite discouraged. Had anything worked for you since your last post? I really hope so! Best, Marnie
I went through the same exact thing. One thing that did help was accupuncture. The lady massaged my face also, which I was actually really afraid of her doing. But it did help. My pain has subsided. To be honest, I don’t know if it was totally because of the accupuncture or just a combination of things. I was on Lyrica for a bit also. I did hear that it does subside sometimes and then comes back later, so that does worry me. Also, I read up on what vitamins to take. It did take a while for the pain to subside. I guess every case is a little different, I had severe pain for months, for some people it seems like it never subsides. I did read a really good book about it which basicially said that the answer isn’t always one miracle cure, its trying different things that might work for you. Wishing you all the best!
Marnie Berk said:
Yes! I had dental work two months ago (a root canal) and that is when the pain began. It actually started as bilateral tingling and turned into pain a week later. I now have extreme facial pain, especially in my lower jaw and chin. I have been to every flavor of dr with very little satisfaction. I am on Lyrica and that has been helpful, but I continue to struggle with the treatment, diagnosis, etc. I am quite discouraged. Had anything worked for you since your last post? I really hope so! Best, Marnie
Ingrid, this is very nice news and certainly inspirational. I am curious: where did they put the needles? I have done acupuncture a couple of times over the last couple of months and it has seemed to make me worse. Would you possibly share the name of the book? Many many thanks! Marnie
I had lots of investigations at the dentist[including root canal checks] before being diagnosed with TN. My chiropracter said my facial muscles were in spasm and my jaw was out of alignment. She stroked them to release them and things were better for a short while, then they went into spasm again and I started tingling on the other side. At this point I sent off for a book "Taking control of TMJ by Robert O. Uppgaard who was a research professor associated with the Craniofacial Pain Clinic at the University of Minnesota. From the time I started the exercises my nerve shocks disappeared but the muscle spasms initally got worse. Apparently this is normal, you work first on the outer “Guard” muscles, then the inner ones malfunction. At this point I went on to 20mg of amitriptyline [but had permission to up it to 50mg]. That tough time lasted about a week then things calmed down. I have been on the programme for 3 months and now have only a residual sporadic ache in my jaw and I’m down to 10mg of amitrip. My doctor and dentist fully support me and a physiotherapist is working on my tight neck and shoulders which may be referring pain to the jaw.
Walter, I too developed TN after my wisdom tooth was removed. The oral surgeon would not take responsibility for it though or even help me figure out where to go or who to see. Finally I found a Neuro etc. I take Neurontin and that seems to be the only thing that has worked so far. what do you take?? Or what do you do for the pain?
Walter Ferreira said:
Hi Robyn, I am so sorry to hear about the pain and everything you have been going through. My TN also started after having my wisdom teeth removed. In all the research I have done I have not been able to find a definitive explanation for each and every case of this condition. It seems as though each case can be rather unique, and some do begin following dental work. All I can say is try to stay positive, and continue to seek good professional help. My sister is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and suggested I find both a good oral surgeon and a good neurologist. I have seen two oral surgeons and two neurologist thus far and neither could offer a good explanation as to what is causing the pain I am experiencing . I am going to continue to look for a doctor who can offer a good explanation and a great course of treatment. In my case I am not %100 sure my pain was caused by the operation I underwent. Post operation I noticed my tongue was feeling numb a couple weeks later. Four years later the pain is now chronic, acute and seems to be getting worse as time goes on. This leaves me wondering if my worsening condition was caused by my operation. I hope my answer and experience is able to help you in some way. I also hope your treatment goes well and you are able to get the pain under control.
Walter, I too developed TN after my wisdom tooth was removed. The oral surgeon would not take responsibility for it though or even help me figure out where to go or who to see. Finally I found a Neuro etc. I take Neurontin and that seems to be the only thing that has worked so far. what do you take?? Or what do you do for the pain?
Walter Ferreira said:
Hi Robyn, I am so sorry to hear about the pain and everything you have been going through. My TN also started after having my wisdom teeth removed. In all the research I have done I have not been able to find a definitive explanation for each and every case of this condition. It seems as though each case can be rather unique, and some do begin following dental work. All I can say is try to stay positive, and continue to seek good professional help. My sister is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and suggested I find both a good oral surgeon and a good neurologist. I have seen two oral surgeons and two neurologist thus far and neither could offer a good explanation as to what is causing the pain I am experiencing . I am going to continue to look for a doctor who can offer a good explanation and a great course of treatment. In my case I am not %100 sure my pain was caused by the operation I underwent. Post operation I noticed my tongue was feeling numb a couple weeks later. Four years later the pain is now chronic, acute and seems to be getting worse as time goes on. This leaves me wondering if my worsening condition was caused by my operation. I hope my answer and experience is able to help you in some way. I also hope your treatment goes well and you are able to get the pain under control.
Robyn if you contact the TNA… the national conference this year was really involved regarding dental work and TN. We had in particular a Dentist there who gave folks good advice on how to prepare for dental work if you have TN and what to tell your own Dentist about helping you. Contact them and get the info from the National Conference at Mayo. Some of the info may be on their site. But you aren’t alone… Many people feel that their TN began after dental work.
Yes I have found relief. I was diagnosed with T.N.P. The neurosurgeon said it is not atypical. I have one option for surgery and he sent me to a pain clinic first. With much trial and error over the years with medication I have found pain relief at the pain clinic. Mine has been constant pain since 2005. I have found relief fro oxycontin and oxycodone for break through pain. I’m not sure if I spelled that right:) They are still working on the dosage at this time. Over the last 5 years I have tried so much medication. I have a great medical team. A dentist, neurologist and a neurosurgeon. I’m the best I have been since this all started. I feel like I’m getting my life back!!On=
Marnie said:
Lisa, So yours is bilateral and also atypical facial pain? Is it a constant pain? Have you found relief from anything?
Kerry, I just wanted to tell you my story about dental work and TN. Almost 25 years ago, after getting dental insurance, I had a missing molar on my left bottom side, so dentist decided a bridge would be best for me. I already had false teeth on top which I got at age 27 due to an old fashioned dentist before dentists did everything they could to save a tooth. Anyway I decided to get the bridge and also have all my back teeth crowned. Came out with beautiful looking back teeth and three months later, the pain started under that bridge. Back to this dentist on several trips when pain would come and go until he almost told me I was neurotic as teeth were good. No one will ever convince me that this tooth work did not contribute to this, although after many different types of doctors and an MRI, I was told I had MS and TN. I just wanted you to know that I am now 62 yrs and have not had any type of normal treatment for either MS or TN but about 10 years ago, I found what would help me control this so that I can live with it and that is lots of Shaklee vitamins (or another good brand) and NUCCA Chiropractic treatments. If you would like to discuss further, email me at ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■.
I had a root canal after my TN started because it presented as a toothache. There is an actual condition that is caused by a root canal and other dental procedures. You may want to check out the TN board on Facebook. They are awesome! I hope you can get some answers soon. Good luck!
I didn’t know there was a TN page on Facebook. Now I do and I’ll go there next. I just scheduled, with some trepidation, a tooth cleaning next week. I really need one and I need the dentist to look at a space between two teeth that has gotten a little bigger and allowing food to lodge in there every time I eat. This is the same spot on which the Dentist did some major work a year and a half ago which triggered an ongoing re-occurance of my TN pain after being symptom free for nearly 6 years.
My pain seems to be under control since I’ve been on Lamotrigine for nearly 3 months now but I’m worried that having a dental hygenist poking around is going to launch a new war. Expecially if the dentist has to numb me up and start working in that spot again.
I Have had a long history with dental work and it affecting my nerves, When I was 9 I went in for a general cleaning and the next morning woke up with bell’s palsy, now every time I get my teeth cleaned I get bells… Also I had maxofacial surgery back in 2003 which was very painful and I think that was the start of my tn pain just never thought much about it, thought it was just the pain from the surgery. Since then I have had nothing but problem. I have had 7 years of no pain (except migraine) until one morning I wike up with what seems to be TN pain, since then I have had 4 root canals and 2 more jaw surgeries to remove any plates or screws that were left in my jaw… Since all of that I have been in excruciating pain that I just cant beat!! Im going in to see the neuroseugeon on dec 21. 2010 and im going to beg him for the MVD I reakky hope he listens to me and does it, although with our medical systen it will probably take another year or more until they can find the time/space to do it! Im not too sure if the dental work had anything to do with all of this as I do have a vessel wrapped around my trigeminal nerve (mri showed that) but I do no that dental work makes it much worse… hope this helps some
Well, I went to the Dentist and had my tooth cleaning but now I have to go back on Monday because I have a broken filling on the top right. It’s next to the tooth that triggered my TN pain a year and a half ago, after 4 pain free years. No problem with the cleaning today. I did take 4 Ibuprofen 30 minutes before my appointment. Monday was as early as I could get in and I want to get it over with. I’m hopeful that I can handle it and my Lamotrigine will keep the pain at bay.
One funny thing (well, not so funny really) was that when I reminded the dentist of my TN and told him my episodes have been frequent and that’s what has prevented me from having dental work done, he looked surprised and asked me when “they” were going to take the nerve out … as if it were that easy. If only.
On Friday, my divorce is final. On Saturday my husband is leaving the state and I will be here alone to take care of my two boys. I have no family here, no support system and I know in my heart we’ll be OK, but it’s scary nonetheless. Monday’s dental appointment should be the least of my worries.