Hi thank you for having me in your group. I am waiting a long time to see a neurologist but in the meantime Iām kinda of stuck.
Does anyone know what this could possibly be? I woke up one morning around 10 days ago with a pain along my zygomatic bone also known as the cheek bone. Itās permanently there and it feels like somebody punched me in the cheek. My first thought was a sinus infection. I took antibiotics but they didnāt help. Itās a very bad pain, it doesnāt feel muscular or nerve like. It feels like a raw ache and is so tender to the touch. Iv had a ct scan and it was fine.
Throughout the day it worsens to the entire eye socket, I feel sick and dizzy and lightheaded all day. Itās only on the left side. When I blink my whole eye hurts so bad and my left ear clicks. But the worse pain stems from this one place on my cheek.
Hi!
I presume that youāve seen a dr if youāve had a ct scan. Have they not considered other tests/treatments? A consult with a neurologist might confirm or eliminate a diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. If your dr hasnāt seen fit to pursue a diagnosis and treatment for you it would be my advice that you ask for a referral to a neurologist or another specialist for help.
Good luck to you
I would also go to an endodontist( root canal specialist)for a cone beam X-ray of that side. This Special 3 D X-ray will diagnose whether or not there is a cracked tooth on that side.
A regular periapical X-ray is not good enough diagnostic quality to detect cracks and initial infections.
Good luck
Thank you both. The problem Iv got is im the Uk which is the nhs. Unfortunately I canāt ask for anything which sucks! For example I was in hospital with left sided head and cheek pain and they did a ct scan, I requested a ct of the face but Iv just found out it was only done of the head which is completely useless as it came back clear. So based on that I was sent back to my gp.
Hi Snailz!
I have that same pain, where it feels like itās broke & someone is punching me in the cheek.
In the beginning of my journey through a typical trigeminal neuralgia it could be pretty bad.
Most of the time warmth , or a warm washcloth would help me ā¦it has evolved over the years,ā¦ and now if I pretty much avoid touching it or leaning on it ā¦it doesnāt really bother me!
You are not alone , you can PM me anytime you need to talk. Hang in there, Min
Interesting that you say this, as I do have the same symptoms as Snails and I also did have to have a cracked tooth on that same side, yanked!! I have a bridge. so very interesting indeed. Thanks for posting!
Thank you Iām seeing ENT on Tuesday Iām going to push for a referral to a specialist dentist as my tooth really hurts! Iām still no better. I really donāt think itās nerve pain as itās not responding to any nerve meds. I do get a little relief with baclofen on my cheek but around the tooth area. Sorry you also have this problem! Itās an absolute nightmare!
Again a disclosure, Iām not a Dr I can only speak to you about my personal experience. Itās sounds like occipital neuralgia or as one neurologist told me ā neuropathic pain
Iām in the UK too and I know your issue with GPs; unfortunately they are not skilled in these areas.
I have spent my whole adult life (Iām 42 and been suffering since childhood) trying to get a referral to a neurologist and constantly sent for MRIs and told no referral.
In the last three years Iāve had to move five GP practices, been to A&E three times (laughed at by a nurse once) and finally said Iām not leaving a GPās office until Iām referred.
Iāve now seen five neurologists and luckily Iām now under the care of Professor Goadsby whom is at the forefront of my conditions (I have SUNCT, Hemicrania Continua, Chronic Migraines and TN).
My advice, donāt back down! Also, check for the best specialists and with the pandemic, all appointments are now by phone or video conferencing, so it doesnāt matter where they are based.
A trick my dentist showed me was to get a metal spoon and with the small end, tap your teeth from the bottom and the side (youāll already now it hurts from the bottom) but if it also hurts from the side, it is likely a dental issue.
If it doesnāt hurt when tapping from the side it is more likely TN or other Chronic Facial Pain or Complex Headache.
Hi, if an mri doesnāt show a compression how do you know if it is ATN, which is what I have been diagnosed with? Can it be something else causing constant burning in my tooth? I have been to the dentist many times and he could find nothing dental that would be causing the pain. I have this for nine years and have been thinking of having gammaknife but wondering how to be sure it as ATN if there is no medical proof. Thank you for any suggestions or advice.
Hey Gizmo,
I havenāt seen Sharon for a while, so I thought Iād try and answer your question. ATN is Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia. The trigeminal nerve is also known as the fifth cranial nerve. Itās considered to be the most complex cranial nerve as it not only senses pain but also controls movement and branches out to both the upper and lower jaw. Pressure or damage or irritation anywhere along the the nerve can cause pain anywhere along that nerve. This can make the whole diagnosis very difficult ie an issue with the jaw can send pain sensation to your teeth. Your teeth could be fine, but the pain seems dental.
Medically speaking there are 2 types of ATN, Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 (TN1) is characterized by attacks of intense, stabbing pain affecting the mouth, cheek, nose, and/or other areas on one side of the face. TN type 2 (TN2) is characterized by less intense pain, but a constant dull aching or burning pain. Some people can have the characteristics of both 1 and 2 at the same time, again making a diagnosis difficult. The name itself really gives it away āATYPICALā or not typical at all, there is no set symptoms. Often ATN is one of those conditions that is diagnosed by elimination. ie If itās not āXā and itās not āYā, then it must be ATN.
ATN has been one of my diagnosisā. Iāve required a few neurosurgeries and in the process I have acquired some chronic bad pain. In trying to obtain answers as to why my pain has been ongoing, ATN was given as a diagnosis. Due to my neurosurgeries, 6 so far, the idea that the trigeminal nerve has NOT been damaged at some point (If not multiple times) is impossible in my opinion and although none of my surgeries have included my lower jaw, the jaw pain is WOW intense.
Initially, I was told, āthe pain, Itās dentalā, so I had all of my top teeth removed, the pain continued. Safe to say it wasnāt my top teeth. I think Iāve come to a point where basically I have to live with it. I was told with each operation that it would be fixed, but that has not been the outcome. So please carefully consider ALL of the proās vs conās before going down the surgical route. Could surgery fix it? Well, yes it could BUT could surgery make things worse? Well, yes it could.
Thank you for your response Merl. So youāre saying I have ATN through a process of elimination? How do I know it it not TMJ which an oral facial pain doc said I had but after trying for months to fit me with a mouth guard that wouldnāt hurt me he told me to have gammaknife. I am thinking about it but am having trouble finding a doctor. Am also concerned that it could posssibly be something else. Besides the horrendous burning in my tooth all day long and sometimes throughout the night Iget afeeling that something is stuck between my teeth and it burns badly that goes to different teeth every time. I. Can feel something with my tongue but the dentist says there is nothing there. Is this a sign of ATN? Never heard of anyone complain about it. Am suffering terribly and donāt know where to turn. Thinking of going to Atlas or NUCCA chiropractor. I know I am going on and on but am hoping to find an answer. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Gizmo
Iām seeing ENT on Tuesday Iām going to push for a referral to a specialist dentist as my tooth really hurts! Iām still no better. I really donāt think itās nerve pain as itās not responding to any nerve meds. I do get a little relief with baclofen on my cheek but around the tooth area. Sorry you also have this problem! Itās an absolute nightmare!