I have a question I would like to throw out there. Does anyone no why TN on the left side is more unusual than right sided TN?. Have intially left side now right side which has presented entirely different . Would appreciate some info. Thanks
My Best
Good question, mine is on the left side—I always wondered why it was more often seen on the right?
Mine is on the left also but I did not know it was more unusual. How and when did yours begin? Mine began after dental work 13 years ago and I’m just now feeling like I can talk about it- started having more symptoms more often recently after more dental work…trying not to panic…dnt feel like my med us working or ever has that well.
Hmmm...was not aware of this. I'm a lefty though I've had pain on the right side, too.
We should have a poll of our members to see how the stats stack up here!
I have left sided TN, I don't think I've read anywhere that the right is more common? I have a feeling my right side may be creeping in as well :/
This is a puzzler to me also. I have Type I on the right and then went onto develop Type II on the left.
Could the way we sleep affect this. I am a left sided sleeper. Nothing scientific here, just musing!
Thanks everyone for your responses, left is defintely more unusual than the right,have read article after medical article saying this is so. I also have developed right sided TN. I have gone on various websites medline and pub med just a few, no one says why its even more unusual. Just curious , will keep digging for info
My Best
I made the assumption, in my case, that the left was my weaker side, as I had old left-sided injuries that left me with nerve damage in my left leg in the 80s, a strain to my left shoulder that took weeks to heal in the early 90s and a left-sided stroke like/MS event in '98 that left me with residual tingling in both cheeks on my face and a variety of neurological issues that flare from time to time ...so when the TN attack hit my left side it didn't seem to be a surprise to me given my body history.
I don't know how much connection to viral loads is made within this forum but during my '98 attack I tested positive for EBV(Epstein-barr virus) and CMV (cytomegalovirus) and while common viruses they were in some way contributing to my troubles as they were high indicating that something had activated them. It took me several weeks to improve.
So, thank goodness, I lead a relatively normal existence! Very grateful that meds manage my TN issues and so appreciate this forum when I'm researching!
I also wondered if having physical trauma to left side of body several times in childhood made this side generally weaker. Also dental issues left side, roots of two molars growing along sinus cavity and undescended wisdom tooth. It’s also the side a sore throat always starts too.
Yes I agree with the left side being weaker. I was going to say because most of us are right handed. I front flipped on a trampoline and my left knee broke my zygomatic maxillary and orbital. My leg was probably all floppy
I find in my massage practice that many of my right-handed folks have left shoulder injuries and have felt that it was probably because of being the weaker side, too.
btw, thermotronica...what an awful injury you suffered!
thermotronica said:
Yes I agree with the left side being weaker. I was going to say because most of us are right handed. I front flipped on a trampoline and my left knee broke my zygomatic maxillary and orbital. My leg was probably all floppy
Thanks. I'm glad your meds have been working out for you. And I suggest we all stay away from trampolines
Thanks everyone I think this has sturred alot of interest. For me personally all my major issues are right sided. In Oct 2010 I had a right sided transaxillary rib resection of my brachial plexus and at the same time I had right sided arm pain I started with left sided facial pain. My neurosurgeo explained to me that left sided facial pain and right sided arm pain symptoms cross over and its the only time that they do in a specific area of the brain. Alot of testimg was dome for neurodegenerative diseases, but all were ruled out. I ended up having a left sided TN and right sided brachial plexus compression. Still the question is why ? Why is left side vs. right side TN more rare. Have Red looking into this for me. Would love an answer.
My Best
I have left sided tn 1 and tn 2. I didn’t know left side was more unusual.
I copied this from the Dana Foundation by P. Jannetta
The pains of trigeminal neuralgia are somewhat more common on the right side of the face than the left, by a ratio of 3 to 2. They are much more common in the central and lower face; the forehead, eye, and top of the head are involved in only 5 percent of cases. For most people, trigeminal neuralgia attacks can start in any area and gradually spread to the whole face, though occasionally one entire side of the face is involved from the onset.
Thanks Bellarke
i also read this in a medline article but unfortunately still has not given me a reason why right side more common than left. Thanks though appreciated!
My Best
Mine is left lower jaw-v3 I didn't know it was unusual. Hmmmmmmmmmm..
Hi Donna, its just one of those things , I just have to find out why there has to ne a pathophysiological reason its not as common on the left as it is on the right. I am determined for myself and now others here. I continue to read medical literature and articles tnere nas to ome article that actually gives an explanation, Red is looking into it for me. He is aware of it being unusual but does not know why himself either. Hes a very knowledgable man and I think I got him digging to find out for me. Keep you and everyone posted
My Best
http://anesthpain.com/?page=download&file_id=5574
Check out this link…read “5.discussion” it mentions ;
“There is some contro- versy about the frequencies of presentation in the right and left sides. The right side of the face is more common- ly affected than the left (ratio of 1. 5:1), possibly because of the narrower foramen rotundum and foramen ovale on the right side (7, 9, 10). We also found pain presentation to be higher on the right side (64%) than on the left side (36%). Bilateral presentation was not seen in our study. These results were surprisingly the same as those from a previous study by Shah et al. (8). Most of the published studies have revealed that the mandibular division (V3) was most commonly involved and that the ophthalmic division (V1) was less commonly presented (5, 7, 9-12, 15- 24). Further, all support the typical feature of this con- dition in which the mandibular and maxillary (V2) divi- sions are more commonly involved than the ophthalmic. Shankland et al. (23) reported that a third of the patients in their study presented with neuralgic pain involving both the second and third divisions of the fifth nerve. Some of the patients in the present study also had both the mandibular and maxillary divisions being simulta- neously affected.”
I have classic TN1 on right, well managed by meds, AND both TN 1&2 on left, it was originally only TN2 on left but last 4-5 months as pain has increased TN1 reared its ugly head.
I’m having mvd on left next week.
Mimi
Ratio of 1.5 to 1 does not seem like that big a difference, notable but not unusual or a rarity.