I'm pretty sure I have geniculate neuralgia along with my TN. As it has progressed, I have started feeling like I have a blow torch in my ear, blowing to the outside world. It's quite uncomfortable, as you can imagine, and has become my chief pain. To combat it, I've begun wearing Buff scarves on my head, with ice wrapped in them. They offer me such comfort that I don't care what I look like.
A couple of days ago, my external ear started stinging, and I kept having to adjust the ice. Yesterday, I didn't use the ice at all, but the stinging grew into aching and itching. My ear is red and mildly swollen, and if I touch - even the slightest bit - the ridge that sticks out (the one that is in the middle of the ear), it causes it pain.
So here's the question: could I have caused frostbite on my ear? It's not waxy looking. I fact, it looks a little angry. It has looked angry ever since the torch started in my ear, though. But I'm worried that I caused something to happen to the ear itself. Or is it just GN finding a different path?
Oh no! I hope you have not caused any damage. I have found that it's easy to get hurt trying to do something for the pain. I have scratched the skin off my forehead from the horrendous itching and burned the skin on the side of my face trying to heat it enough to get rid of the pain. (Because heat works better for me.) So I have learned to be extra careful I don't need injuries on top of the already existing pain. But I can easily see how this happens. Please be careful.
Oh, Jennie! I know it'ss not funny, but it is kind of funny in a sick sort of way. One time I tried capsaicin liquid in my ear. I rolled around on my bed for a while after THAT bright idea. Btw, I got really bad poison ivy a few years back, and I found that slapping it helped nearly as much as scratching. It was on my leg, so I could slap pretty hard. I don't suggest you wallop your forehead, though!
Hi! I have had Atypical TN x23 yrs,and the only thing that has helped me is Homeopathy.It is safe and inexpensive. Right now I take Swansons Migraine,Swansons Earache,and Swansons Nerve Pain Homeopathics,and also Boiron Sinusalia and Hylands Migraine.I don't get the half burning head pain that I used to get since starting this.If I start getting burning in or around my ear,it now disappears on its own or I take the homeopathic earache and migraine and it is uusual gone in seconds. And sometimes for cheek,eye and tooth pain I take everything and may have to repeat as needed. Sinus problems and allergies can send the pain sky high and Sinusalia and homeopathic allergy tabs help! Homeopathics usually are dissolved under the tongue .I just thought this might help! Hope you get some relief soon!
Good morning Beth,when I read you put ice around your ears, my first thought was we are all so different with TN pain, because I do have GN,and ice for me would just be awful. I am sorry you are dealing with this too. My ears use to get bright red and feel real warm but that part is gone due to using the cream gallixa,I also have terrible stabbing pain once in awhile in my ears,that’s enough to make me want to think about jumping out the car at times. My ears more often then not just throb. I do know that if your not real careful you could get frost bite. I have on my toes from when I was a kid,and they still act up and burn and itch with awful little purple blisters, not fun, but it only happens a time or two a year but it’s not good so please be careful,that would not be good on your ears. Wishing you the best, dawn
Beth, I'm glad you can have a sense of humor especially after things like your capsaisin escapade. I still laugh every day too. There's always something. I'm so glad I don't have depression even with not being able to drive anymore or go outside because of all this. There are still windows to look out of. And hope that some miracle will happen. I won't try your poison ivy slap cure on my head.
Wow, erin. I have used homeopathics in the past for mastitis and pneumonia, and they worded wonderfully. I could never get them to work for colds or sinus issues, though, and I strayed away from them. I am going to go to the health food store today to see if I can pick up the earache and nerve pain meds. I don't know what to do if the burning flares up again. I mean, truly, I felt like my ear was going to burn right off.
Thanks for the tips!
Beth
erin said:
Hi! I have had Atypical TN x23 yrs,and the only thing that has helped me is Homeopathy.It is safe and inexpensive. Right now I take Swansons Migraine,Swansons Earache,and Swansons Nerve Pain Homeopathics,and also Boiron Sinusalia and Hylands Migraine.I don't get the half burning head pain that I used to get since starting this.If I start getting burning in or around my ear,it now disappears on its own or I take the homeopathic earache and migraine and it is uusual gone in seconds. And sometimes for cheek,eye and tooth pain I take everything and may have to repeat as needed. Sinus problems and allergies can send the pain sky high and Sinusalia and homeopathic allergy tabs help! Homeopathics usually are dissolved under the tongue .I just thought this might help! Hope you get some relief soon!
Well, I just ordered some gallixa, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works for me. My mother has severe post herpetic neuralgia from shingles, so if it works for me, I'll definitely send her some. Thank you for the suggestion!
Beth
Dawn Monarch said:
Good morning Beth,when I read you put ice around your ears, my first thought was we are all so different with TN pain, because I do have GN,and ice for me would just be awful. I am sorry you are dealing with this too. My ears use to get bright red and feel real warm but that part is gone due to using the cream gallixa,I also have terrible stabbing pain once in awhile in my ears,that's enough to make me want to think about jumping out the car at times. My ears more often then not just throb. I do know that if your not real careful you could get frost bite. I have on my toes from when I was a kid,and they still act up and burn and itch with awful little purple blisters, not fun, but it only happens a time or two a year but it's not good so please be careful,that would not be good on your ears. Wishing you the best, dawn
Wow, Jennie. You can't drive anymore? Is it the meds that restrict your driving?
I have a hard time going out in the winter. The cold air, when it's a still air, feels really good on my face. But if there's any breeze at all, it really burns. Sometimes, too, the cold air going up my nose causes me pain. I'm seriously looking to get a niqab, which is a Muslim face covering. There are some that cover all but the slightest bit of your eyes, which is important to me, to limit the cold air on my face. I know I will get a lot of looks, but I've pretty much gotten beyond that. Although ... I went to listen to a live band with my husband the other night, with my scarf and ice. I kept having to change the ice, and I got embarrassed and frustrated because it was a small venue, and people kept looking at me. Frankly, I had a large and very potent planter's punch, and I think the alcohol lowered my resistance, so I started feeling sorry for myself. Usually, I am having too much fun to care, but it had been a long day, and the booze brought out the dark side. I was very happy to get home that night.
Jennie said:
Beth, I'm glad you can have a sense of humor especially after things like your capsaisin escapade. I still laugh every day too. There's always something. I'm so glad I don't have depression even with not being able to drive anymore or go outside because of all this. There are still windows to look out of. And hope that some miracle will happen. I won't try your poison ivy slap cure on my head.
