OK, my first TN episode was twelve years ago...it went undiagnosed until 2008...I have a long history of tooth problems that we realize now may have been less severe in light of the diagnosis. I take Topamax to manage the TN and migraines. My last major episode was in 2008. I have a tooth that has a filling that I thought might have been declining and in need of a root canal. My husband recently got antibiotic that when the pain started (returned as TN?) I started taking; I did not take his antibiotic from him. Rather, they called a different one in for him b/c it made him nauseated and I had taken this antibiotic for tooth problems previously. I got in to the dentist Monday; they did x-rays and the tooth has problem. It has been filled of course, but there is no abscess. The pain Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday has been horrendous once again. It has been around the clock until last evening. Again no sign of infection, and opiates are not touching the pain. All of that is consistent with TN. The problem is this new pain is different.
First, usually I have a few days of bad pain that is somewhat sporadic. This time it hit me with a vengeance. Second, this pain is more electrified than it has ever been before...it hurts so fiercely and sharply that tears come to my eye on that side involuntarily. I do Lamaze breathing to ride the pain out, massage my face, etc. while on pain meds to no avail. I guess I just want feedback on the fact that the pain is different than before--stronger, sharper, etc.--and that the pattern is slightly different, but still resistant to pain medication like with TN. Bad teeth traditionally respond to pain medication for as long as it will last, and this doesn't. But the pain does not feel or seem to be always just in my face like before; it truly feels like it is in my teeth. It hurts where I have a bridge; it hurts where the teeth were x-ray'd Monday and show no abscess. Am I going nuts?