The lidocaine cream helps me quite a bit, should help you your nose pain.
Thats interesting about the 24 hr urine test that tests for proteins and metals, I wonder what that's all about..Just bring your mouthwash with you this weekend and hope things go as well as they can at a funeral. Sorry for your loss, btw. I'm still in pain right now, but less pain than yesterday...I feel funny about going on and on yesterday, but when you are in a lot of pain, plus vomiting from topamax, I just went on here and typed away...
hi Just Jane... I am very interested in Amitriptyline now from your story. How long did it take, to take the painful teeth away? How did you find a good dr. who prescribed it to you in the first place?any side effects of this drug? It makes me angry to hear off all these root canals people get, only to find that the tooth didn't need one. Don't endodontists know how to tell the difference between a tooth that needs a root canal and a tooth that doesn't?? I have an apt with an endodontist to determine if I need a root canal and the evaluation itself I was told can get up to 300 bucks...
justjane37 said:
Hi Jasmine,
My ATN is in my teeth on my left side. I also had an unnecessary root canal. The pain always starts on a specific molar but spreads to other teeth on that side, top and bottom. It moves around and it also moves into my cheek, jaw and ear. I am taking 40mgs Amitriptyline which has been my lifesaver. I recently had to increase my dose but things seem to be under control again.
As for immediate help--warm showers and baths, hot water bottle on my neck and the side of my face. I find flossing and brushing gently around that tooth will ease a tad of the pressure (for other people I know that is a trigger, though). I haven't tried the lidocaine mouthwash but many swear by it. Tylenol never helped me. Tylenol 3 didn't take the pain away but it would relax me and allow me to sleep after a painful day :) I have recently been using Voltaren Emulgel around my face on my affected side. It seems to help quite a bit for some temporary relief.
Did you see the neuro yet? Please keep us updated. You need to start medication as soon as possible.
Scared & Angry Girl,
I'm sorry for everything that you have been through, and are going through. Be careful with the dentist. Nerve pain can really imitate tooth pain. It was explained to me not to have any dental work done if there is not physical evidence--either a spot on the x-ray or a bump on the gum. My dentist performed a root canal without any physical evidence and a history of TN. I had been in remission for a few years and really wanted the problem to be dental. Well, it wasn't. He also told me that the nerve was very close to the cavity. I was in worse pain after that root canal than before it. Dental work did not cause my TN but it may have exacerbated it.
I do not have any faith in dentists or dental professionals now. I was told all sorts of things, from TMJ to teeth grinding. This is my second go with TN. I had my first attack about seven years ago. That is the first time I took Amitriptyline. I was just lucky that I had a really great doctor and she knew what to do. It worked great for me then so as soon as I had that root canal that didn't eliminate my pain, I knew I had to try Amitriptyline again. I have a different doctor now but she listened and knew my history.
It really took awhile to start working. This medication has some side effects (they all do) so I increased the dose VERY slowly from 10mgs to 40mgs over about six weeks. Very gradually the pain went away in degrees and then completely. About three months ago I tried to reduce it down to 30mgs. I was fine until about two weeks ago. Some of the pain was coming back so I went back to 40mgs and all is good again :)
The main side effects are dry mouth and fatigue. I take it a couple of hours before bed time and welcome the help getting to sleep. Mornings were very groggy at first but that lessened as I got used to the medication. I also notice some sluggishness. My concentration seems a bit fuzzy and I don't have a lot of motivation to do anything other then what has to get done. It is completely worth it to be out of that terrible pain though!! The other side effect is weight gain. I notice I crave food and eat more. I have gained about 10 lbs. Again worth it in my mind! I'm trying to eat better and exercise more so hopefully I can lose that weight now that I am feeling better.
I have heard there is a very similar drug called nortriptyline that has less side effects than this one.
I was reading through your story. So you had a filling and started to experience this pain? Or was the pain there before the filling? Is it slowly getting worse? And is the appointment for the root canal about the same tooth that caused this pain?
Jasmine, I am so sorry you are going thru all of this. It just seems that TN can be quite confusing to us as well as every type of doctor. I have gotten more information by reading on this site and asking questions than I ever have in any doctor, dentist, etc. offices. We seem to have many different stories but ultimately we are ALL suffering in the same manner.
Keep searching and asking questions and if your gut instincts are telling you that a doctor is sending you down the wrong road --then CHANGE DOCTORS!! Don't settle girl - the right answers are out there and it is up to US to find them. keep us posted......Jodi
I have used oragel and it gives periods of relief... It feels funny becaue I rub it all over all the teeth and gums on the affected side of my mouth
I put a little dab of sensodyne toothpaste on the gum/tooth and it helps sooth the pain for a few minutes.
Thanks for responding. Sorry I didn't answer sooner but we were out of town for a family member's wake.
I understand how you feel. My blood tests came back normal. Next week I will do a 24-hour urine collection to check further. After that, I guess the next step is an MRI, although the neurologist doesn't think I have TN. He thinks it's parenthesia (sp), even though I told him that I do get some electric shock sensations.
Last week was a pretty good week for me pain wise. My teeth started hurting a couple of times but went away pretty fast. I am really frustrated at this point. Do I or do I NOT have TN? My teeth are perfectly fine according to my dentist.
Anyway, I hope that you start having pain-free days soon!
Scared & Angry gal said:
that's horrible, I would just try another neurologist until they get it right. I am really upset right now. I got a new script for Topamax today, to take before dental procedures. Mistake number one, I cut it in half and took it thinking 50 mg was to much for the first time, and my stomach feels like it will explode and I got sick.Then I looked at the directions and it says swallow whole. Then I felt hot, so I layed on my bed and put my ceiling fan on that is over my bed...about 15secs later I felt a really bad pain in my lower teeth, and it still hurts like hell. I have had this on/off pain in my lower teeth since I got my upper molar cavity filled , but I have been telling myself that the bite must be off, or I know I grind at night, that's why my lower teeth are hurting....Just like Jasmine, I am really freaking out right now. I went from pain free, just nautious and upset stomach, to now excruciating pain in lower teeth and jaw..I just put a heating pad to half my face, and I think you are right , it took the edge off a bit.. so , now I am totally confused.... I have a cavity filling apt on Tuesday, that I don't think I want to go to now, with out any stabilizing meds in me and a molar extraction on march 7th cuz it is hurting like Hell. The dentist said on the xray the filling that was recently done on this molar is very close to the nerve so he can see why it would be hurting, so I am really confused, is it TN or not or combo of both????Dr. Casey told me to get a local dr. for safety reasons , so I met with a neurologist on Monday, but I think she saw a couple folks with nerve damage due to tooth extractions like is my case and she goes, "these things usually go away in a year, nerves take a while to heal, blah, blah, " I told her , it is a month away from a yr and its getting worse... she goes," that's cause you had a filling done recently" the lady doesn't know what she is talking about.... she gave me a copy of her paperwork: she wrote down: diagnosis: atypical face pain.... I told her what I have, trigeminal neuropathy, and that a leader in the field told me this and gave her his letter, and it goes in one ear, out the other... anyways, I'm sorry Jasmine, didn't mean to turn this into me, I can just really relate to what you are going through tonight and it is Hell...
Thanks, Maureen. I asked my regular doc for some lidocaine (sp) spray but he told me it is only used for procedures. He didn't even offer or mention lidocaine ointment! Fortunately, my nose hasn't burned as bad for several days. I think my regular doctor thinks I'm a nutcase.
Maureen said:
The lidocaine cream helps me quite a bit, should help you your nose pain.
Thanks for the tip, I appreciate it very much.
me said:
I put a little dab of sensodyne toothpaste on the gum/tooth and it helps sooth the pain for a few minutes.
Yes, I've tried oragel too and it did seem to help for a little while. Thanks.
lkdintexas said:
I have used oragel and it gives periods of relief... It feels funny becaue I rub it all over all the teeth and gums on the affected side of my mouth
Your dentist can make a tray that fits your teeth. Then he can prescribe you a compound medicine with lidocaine and other meds in it to numb the area. This is much, much stronger than oragel. And you can wear the tray for a longer period of time.
Ask your doctor to write a script for Lydocaine nasal spray 4% to start, usually you have to go to a compounding pharmacy, you can swish this in your mouth and spit it out and also give a spray in the nose too, it will dull the nerves in your sinus and cheek areas and top of teeth by spraying in your nose. Usually the pharmacist uses a base nasal spray of Ocean saline and adds the liquid lidocaine. ALSO there is a VISCOUS LIDOCAINE that is specifically for oral use, do no ask for the basic for normal people, we don't have normal mouth conditions, go with at least a 4% to start, I now use 8% for both the nasal and the viscous. It dulls and stops the pain enough so you can fall asleep, or do whatever you need to do , of course, try not to swallow, or eat anything cause your tongue will not know if you bit it...and swallowing can be scary until you get the hang of it.. but it will definitely stop that pain. The nasal spray is used for cluster headaches, and a stronger version is just right for TN pain in the cheek, eye area, neck and mouth. AND EAR !! Good Luck, don't fall for any of the quack methods, don't work, waste of time to get you to a pain free place. I had Gamma Knife, horrible , and finally MVD, that stopped the lightening bolts, but I still have the TN constant dull throbbing and when the weather changes sinus pain and headaches and have meds, but the lightening electric shocks stopped only with the MVD, which I wish I would have had done to start, but I was scared...
Remember this is not a DENTAL problem, this is a MEDICAL situation and any caring Dentist knows that Trigeminal Neuralgia, is described as one of the first conditions in their Dental Textbooks that tells them that this is a MEDICAL situation and to send the patient directly to their Medical Doctor, MD or DO.. I had a dentist who replaced all my molars because he told me the pain which could never be pinpointed, was from my old dental fillings. One of his associates saw me after the $15,000. of dental work, pulled out his textbook and showed me that it was NEVER a dental problem or a situation an ethical dentist would take care of and sent me right to the MD.. A Dentist is not capable to cure or treat this neurological condition. Sure it starts usually in the teeth, ear, tongue, jaw area, but it is not Dental in any way shape or form. The nerve involved is delicate and needs medical attention , not Dental.. Don't let a dentist even try to help with this condition. been there, cost lots of unnecessary pain and money. The longer you wait, the worse it gets. Go to a medical doctor. I can't stress this enough. Gabapentin, Hydrocodone, Clonazepham...maybe a few others, but stay away from the dentist. My fool of a dentist originally gave me vitamin E capsules and told me that I should rub them on my gums...what a nut.. this is such a RARE disorder, and causes extreme pain and shots of electric pain that come harder and faster and longer. and is almost unbearable. This is lifelong, it does come back. Sounds like there are even some Medical Doctors who are not familiar with this rare disorder....go to the ER if you have to. a 24 hour urine collection for testing is money wasting and crazy. The electric shocks are a give away to the doctors. If you get an MRI get it with CONTRAST. that will show the compression on the nerve by the artery....
Well said Cathy! Well said.
that's a really great idea feafee...
feafee said:
Your dentist can make a tray that fits your teeth. Then he can prescribe you a compound medicine with lidocaine and other meds in it to numb the area. This is much, much stronger than oragel. And you can wear the tray for a longer period of time.
I have the VISCOUS LIDOCAINE , but I have not used it yet. Why do they have to go and call it viscous? lol... I am kind of afraid of the stuff, it is so thick, so I put some of that thick stuff in my mouth and kind of gargle with it and spit it out?? My doctor didn't even know how to use it, she just prescribed it to me, and the pharmacist didn't know much either....
Cathy said:
Ask your doctor to write a script for Lydocaine nasal spray 4% to start, usually you have to go to a compounding pharmacy, you can swish this in your mouth and spit it out and also give a spray in the nose too, it will dull the nerves in your sinus and cheek areas and top of teeth by spraying in your nose. Usually the pharmacist uses a base nasal spray of Ocean saline and adds the liquid lidocaine. ALSO there is a VISCOUS LIDOCAINE that is specifically for oral use, do no ask for the basic for normal people, we don't have normal mouth conditions, go with at least a 4% to start, I now use 8% for both the nasal and the viscous. It dulls and stops the pain enough so you can fall asleep, or do whatever you need to do , of course, try not to swallow, or eat anything cause your tongue will not know if you bit it...and swallowing can be scary until you get the hang of it.. but it will definitely stop that pain. The nasal spray is used for cluster headaches, and a stronger version is just right for TN pain in the cheek, eye area, neck and mouth. AND EAR !! Good Luck, don't fall for any of the quack methods, don't work, waste of time to get you to a pain free place. I had Gamma Knife, horrible , and finally MVD, that stopped the lightening bolts, but I still have the TN constant dull throbbing and when the weather changes sinus pain and headaches and have meds, but the lightening electric shocks stopped only with the MVD, which I wish I would have had done to start, but I was scared...