For about 3 to 4 weeks I have been having a prickly , numbness kind of sensation on my left face. It runs from forehead to chin, but it is worse on my cheek and chin. I went to my Dr on Friday and he said most likely it is TN. I have a MRI scheduled for Wednesday to rule out a tumor , stroke , ect.. One thing I have that I don't see listed for most people is I am very "off balance". I am dizzy and kind of light headed. This symptom has been going on for just over a week. All of my symptoms are non stop. I have them all day every day. I see some people have light headed ness after starting medication , but mine is prior to any meds. My Dr. did prescribe Gabapentin , and I know its only been a couple of days , so far I don't see any improvement in any of my symptoms.
Has anyone else experienced what I assume is pressure in the inner ear causing vertigo problems ?
Welcome marty!! Not sure about the dizziness-- but yes to the numbness/prickly feeling... all on the left side-- and felt like my eyelid was drooping... TN caused pain, too-- but the prickly feeling and the pain came at different times for me. FYI-- Make sure your MRI is not open-- and also that it has the highest magnet possible-- a tesla 3.0 is best. I traveled a few hours to a major med center to get the best MRI-- so they could rule out all the other nasty stuff that could be causing this... they had scheduled me for a local open mri and when the tech called me to schedule it he said it would be useless for TN!!! The docs just aren't very familiar with this!! Hope you figure it out soon-- it took about four days for the tegretol to kick in for me-- have been pain and numb-free for a month...
I struggle with vertigo as well and had thought it was due to the meds. After seeing an ENT she is not so convinced and is sending me to a vestibular lab in August. I will let you know how that goes. Till then I chew on ginger chews to help with the nausea. All the best!
Thanks for the replies. my symptoms don't appear to be the "norm" I guess. The pain I have on my face is nothing compared the vertigo. As an added bonus the last couple of days I have been having on and off bouts of double vision. It's got me pretty freaked out. I hope the MRI shows what the problem is.
I was just diagnosed 2weeks ago and having an MRI tomorrow. I have had horrible dizzy spells and lightheaded ness ever since my symptoms started about 2-3 months ago. I thought it was just from the pain. I am on gabapentin but notice no relief of the pain or lessening of the dizziness. I see my neuro again next Tuesday.
I had the MRI yesterday .. now waiting on the results.. the dizziness and lightheadedness are awful. I also have been having problem with my sense of taste.. I all can taste is salt.. If I drink water , it's salty.. milk , salty.. everything taste like salt.. it's horrible.. I hope your MRI helps.. if nothing else I did get a good nap during the MRI..
Maryrose said:
I was just diagnosed 2weeks ago and having an MRI tomorrow. I have had horrible dizzy spells and lightheaded ness ever since my symptoms started about 2-3 months ago. I thought it was just from the pain. I am on gabapentin but notice no relief of the pain or lessening of the dizziness. I see my neuro again next Tuesday.
So sorry that you have to wait so long to see a neuro. I had my MRI yesterday and will get my results from the neuro next Tuesday. Still having the burning, tingling, needle-like pain plus the worst headache known to man constantly along with the dizziness. Gabapentin has done nothing so far but since I just started it I am at a very low dose of 900 mg a day and nothing else. Hopefully, I will make it through the weekend and be able to get something more done when I see the neuro next Tuesday. My heart goes out to you for having to wait so long. Hang in there.
Thanks ~ hope yours is better also.. I tried the Gabapentin for a few days but starting having double vision as a side effect and so no relief so I stopped. Have you had any problems with it ?
Maryrose said:
So sorry that you have to wait so long to see a neuro. I had my MRI yesterday and will get my results from the neuro next Tuesday. Still having the burning, tingling, needle-like pain plus the worst headache known to man constantly along with the dizziness. Gabapentin has done nothing so far but since I just started it I am at a very low dose of 900 mg a day and nothing else. Hopefully, I will make it through the weekend and be able to get something more done when I see the neuro next Tuesday. My heart goes out to you for having to wait so long. Hang in there.
Great, Albee. Marty1rob, I am having blurry vision so I don’t know if this dizziness and blurry vision are side effects of the gabapentin or not. I thought the pain may be causing it. I see my neurologist again on Tuesday and hopefully he can figure it out. I really need some relief. I have been in pain for 3 months now.