I have TN but I also suffer from Migraines or possibly Cluster Headaches. My headaches have lasted up to a year and half long. The problem is sometimes I think I might be confusing TN pain for headache pain. I get these sharp pains behind my eye, and a burning sensation in my sinuses and on the bridge of my nose. Is that part of a migraine or TN?? I know my normal TN is electric shock like sensations, and sustained burning sensations. But what are these other feelings? Does anyone else get these? I am very confused!!! I would like to know because I need to know how to treat what I am feeling. Should I be taking my migraine medication or should I be talking to my neurologist about upping my Gabapentin.... and all that jazz. As you can tell, I am a bit frazzled by all this. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I don't have an answer for you but I wanted to let you know I'm in the same boat. It's not fun and I feel for you. I'm scheduled to see a pain doctor who is also a neurologist in a few weeks, I will let you know what I find out:) in the meantime it couldn't hurt to talk toyour neurologist:)
hey leeters- sounds familiar...while I don't get migraines..I have had trouble with my teeth for years and have tmj. I have hot/cold/sweet sensitivity on various teeth and sometimes my jaw aches more than usual (from the tmj?? or the tn??) This just makes me crazy... and anxious... because if I don't get ahold of it right away I am afraid it will get nasty... and my tn started as bad pain in my one tooth- before it went ballistic...
sorry to hear you are dealing with migraines too. Have you heard of peripheral nerve stimulation? Some ppl have had good results for migraines and tn.. without going the brain surgery route! There is a facebook group for it if you are interested...
Thanks for the reply lakegirl and tacocat. Lakegirl, let me know how your visit goes. I have a neuro visit Oct. 24th, so I will talk to her about differentiating between the pain then.
Tacocat- I haven't heard of peripheral nerve stimulation. I will have to look into it. I'm sorry you too have the frustration of dealing with two issues.
Ugh. I am feeling so just.... ARG from this pain right now. We tried increasing my gabapentin to 900mg 3x/day and that made me feel like a drunk idiot. So now I am back down to 600mg 3x/day but it doesn't cover the pain. What a joke.
It could possibly be both types of TN I and 2.I've never had migranes ,but they sound pretty terrible.Hopefully your neurologist can figure it out quickly and get you on the right treatment.
As for the stimulator treatment,my GP called me at 9:30 pm one night(which i thought was incredible)to tell me about this treatment a pain management center was offering.He said the success rate was 100% for those with TN.It will be my next tool should my pain return.Not crazy about having a battery/ control device inserted underskin,but would do it to kill the pain.I had a Gamma Knife procedure that seems to have worked beautifully, although it took 9 weeks to completely lose the pain.I'm happy,but still wondering if/when the old monster will rear it's ugly head.The few people i have heard from here were very happy as far as the stimulator tratment.That's only 2 or 3 though.Don
i suffer from that ..sounds like type 2 tn...initally i had shocks and stuff but after years it developed into more intense aching in my jaw, side of nose, side of face and head and with a generalised one sided headache and at times with migraines too...go to see neuro, they may be able to perscribe something that covers that sort of pain more or perhaps anti migraine meds would help...
I had the MVD surgery a year and two months ago. Since then I have had a headache EVERY day. On top of that, a bacteria was introduced to the mastoid bone during the surgery. The bacterial infection was finally diagnosed 4 weeks ago. I am in week 4 of IV antibiotics for the bacterial infection -- which is finally starting to clear up. They had decided that the pain behind my ear was entrapped nerves in the incision from the MVD -- WRONG. Now, with the headaches I am off to the neurologist this afternoon for Botox injections -- since the antibiotics did noting for the headaches as they had hoped. The really bad news is that now that the pain in the mastoid bone is decreasing -- I have noticed that the TN pain is trying to sneak back into my life. If they cannot control your headaches with the meds, I suggest that you find out if your insurance will cover the Botox injections. The TN pain is bad enough by itself -- I would make the call to your neurologist as soon as possible. Good luck.
Mary,so sorry to hear this.Hopefully your neuro can get you free of pain soon.Getting the infection out of your body is a great thing.Don
Mary N. said:
I had the MVD surgery a year and two months ago. Since then I have had a headache EVERY day. On top of that, a bacteria was introduced to the mastoid bone during the surgery. The bacterial infection was finally diagnosed 4 weeks ago. I am in week 4 of IV antibiotics for the bacterial infection -- which is finally starting to clear up. They had decided that the pain behind my ear was entrapped nerves in the incision from the MVD -- WRONG. Now, with the headaches I am off to the neurologist this afternoon for Botox injections -- since the antibiotics did noting for the headaches as they had hoped. The really bad news is that now that the pain in the mastoid bone is decreasing -- I have noticed that the TN pain is trying to sneak back into my life. If they cannot control your headaches with the meds, I suggest that you find out if your insurance will cover the Botox injections. The TN pain is bad enough by itself -- I would make the call to your neurologist as soon as possible. Good luck.
Our symptoms are almost identical! I had the pain on right side near nose but especially the bridge. I have TN2 that is now controlled by meds and a topical cream.
I also have headaches that one Doc says are cluster and one says migraine. Being that you are having them for 1.5 yrs plus I really can’t say which you have. Also I am not a med professional. />
Are you able to sleep during a headache attack? One Doc said if you are able to sleep it is not cluster as cluster will keep you pacing and really edgy.
You mention pain behind your eye. Have you heard of Occipital Neuralgia? I have that and it can cause a dull strange headache for very very long periods of time.
Well, I hope I helped! Please feel free to ask questions!