Hello everyone, I'm 26 and am suffering from what I think may be T2 TN.
My pain began with what I thought was a tooth ache from one of my molars. After seeing two dentist that couldn't find the source of pain. I went to my primary care doctor to find help. The pain was off and on for a few weeks, very similar to a tooth ache, but the pain began to escalate slowly. I am currently seeing a few doctors looking for a diagnosis. Symptoms have now spread to both sides(more common flare up on the right side) of my face, around, sinus, eyes, forehead and temples. It comes in waves ranging from a dull swollen/burning sensation, to extreme stabbing pain. I don't suffer from electrical shock feelings currently.
I'm having difficulty concentrating at work due to the pain, and stressing myself out about the source of the pain. If anyone has any advice on finding a diagnosis, or just some support, I would appreciate it.
The most reliable means of diagnosis for TN is generally regarded to be a positive patient response to a short trial of Tegretol or one of the tricyclic antidepressant drugs. Talk with your physician about being tapered up over a period of two to four weeks, while observing for both primary and side effects.
Regards, Red
hi George,
What you mentioned is EXACTLY the same as me. I am 35 however.
I am also struggling with my job because even though i dont have the electric shocks, i can get very painful stabs that can be very anxiety provoking and this is affecting my work.
I just got a prescription for nortryptaline (a TCA) which i hope will give me some relief. Other than that i am doing my best to prevent this pain from distracting me, i just get up from my cubicle after a particularly bad pain episode and walk around and come back and soldier on :)
Good luck
H
Hi George,
Your pain sounds similar to how mine began. I was diagnosed when I was 29. I can be difficult to get a proper diagnosis if you have atypical type pain. In my experience most Drs will not diagnose TN but may diagnose AFP instead. There are quite a few terms that are interchangeable for the same thing.
Like H I am on Nortriptyline. It has been very helpful. Amitriptyline helped me a lot too. I know it is hard to concentrate with constant pain. I work full time and have gone through some pretty crappy times with TN. The fear is normal too. Here you have this invisible, diagnosable pain that no one knows what it is...of course that will lead to anxiety.
It is usually a neurologist that will diagnose TN. You need to have an MRI to rule out other causes, such as MS or a tumor. Going through these steps will also help with your anxiety a bit...knowing that there is nothing more sinister going on. I will tell you though that I have had this for three years and I still have some anxiety, especially when experiencing a new symptoms. Relying on support from groups like this really help. You will see that all of those wacky, invisible things that you experience are shared by many other people.
Jane
Hi,
I have similar pain like you guys. I extracted a tooth an I still get throbbing or dull ache constant 24/7 from the same tooth site. I have been prescribed with Nortriptyline. My question is, are we going to in this medicine for ever. Is there any hope that the nerve system will repair. How can we be on medicine for ever. I am losing hope from life.
A lot of people with chronic conditions are on medications for life. Diabetics, people with mental health issues, etc. So if nortriptyline helps, i see no reason why i wouldnt want to be on it forever.It's definitely better than the pain!
Also, down the line, maybe they will discover a cure for TN :)
H
Hi my pain also started in a back molar but my dentist wasnt educated enough so i went on with extensive dental work. I had exact symptoms as you are saying forehead crushing burning stabbing..started on one side but moved to both its worse on right side though i do not have typical shocks either. So I have Tn2 or ATN. The anti sez meds made my pain worse. I am on nortriptyline 75mg a day. Keeps the pain way down dont have all those awful diff face pains that seemed to constantly jump around and gets rid of pain in my teeth.