After you have had an attack can you express if your pain goes completely away, linger for awhile & for how long or if it stays there for the rest of your day as a full ache or really hurting badly? Also would you mind telling me if you are atypical or not? I am asking because I have had a very long haul with getting a true diagnosis. Some doctors would say yes you do have TN some would tell me it was my jaws or my neck. Well I finally receive a true diagnosis of having TN but I keep finding my pain is different than many others. I know we are all different and will hurt differently but I will have an attack but my pain never seems to subside. I know it is there all day whether its just a full ache or full blown excruciating pain. I never forget I have it. I’m just searching and more curious I guess as to how everyone else feels.
Can you help me?
I am waiting to see a neurologist in July to confirm the diagnosis of TN, but after being on prednisone (steroids) for several weeks, the pain is minimal, but it is always there, kind of a dull ache with occasional "zings." They have ruled out many things, including dental problems, temporal arteritis and TMJ disorder, so I don't know what else it could be. I know that this does not confirm anything for you, but I am just letting you know that I, too, have this ongoing pain that is persistent. Sometimes it help to hear about other peoples' experiences.
Nikki,
You’re right in that we all experience things differently. I’ve learned that we may share similarities but I have yet to meet 2 people who’s TN is exactly the same.
On my Type 2 side I could experience different intensities of pain, sometimes it lessens and goes away completely and other times it would stay,not subsiding at all.
It can be relentless, especially if it becomes resistant to meds…
(( hugs)) Mimi
Yes, yes, yes and yes! It happens differently at different times. Sometimes, I think the pain lingers because I get stressed waiting for the next attack. I also think I have small attacks that continue to happen for so long that I feel like it is lingering pain. Like Mimi said, no two people are alike. I went the longest time without hearing the words "ice pick" to describe ear pain and suddenly, I have been hearing it often. It made me wonder if I had something else going on. I had different "doctors" tell me different things. My neck and shoulders are stiff, I stiffen up when I have an attack. I also find that I have started gritting my teeth because that seems to help the tooth pain sometimes. . but the dentist told me it caused my pain. I never forget I have it either because everyday I have pain. Hopefully, your Neurologist will help you find the right combination of medications to help you. I think we have all been where you all, questioning what we think to be true because we are not just like everyone else.