I have just recently been diagnosed with TN. I have not had the spasms in my jaw long. My pains started as “eye aches” about 6 months ago. I did not associate those with anything until my doctor started talking about TN and the eye aches made sense. The pain in my jaw started as on sharp pain shooting Down my left jawline. Dr put me on a steroid to calm the nerve. That didn’t work, next he tried tegretol 100 mg. While I was on that the pain changed to 3 or 4 brief shooting stabbing pains as I took my first bite of whatever I am eating. Not only that my hips and legs ached very bad. I stopped taking that. I do suffer from TMJ. Now he seems to think that it is the TMJ causing all this pain since it’s only when I eat. He has now prescribed an anti inflammatory and a muscle relaxer. I’m not so sure about the muscle relaxer. He is also referring me to a neurologist, he is ordering an MRI and referring me to a dentist that specializes in TMJ. (Although my dentist doesn’t think that is the root of it)
I have not had any surgeries or trams. Prior to the sharp pains I felt as if I had an ear ache for about 2 weeks. I still feel as if I have something in my ear sometimes. I am out of work on FMLA because the place I work we have to wear ear plugs and that was too painful. I have to act fast to get this under control so I can go back to work.
I guess I’ll see what the MRI, neurologist, and dentist says. Then I’ll go from there.
Any advice would be helpful. Thanks