Extreme Facial pain

Hi, I registered just to be able to post on this chain. Since going to the dentist last I now have been diagnosed with 'hellish' trigeminal neuralgia. The thought of having to take Tegretol with all the horrible side effects gave me the horrors, and so made me delve more deeply to hopefully find alternative pain management, and recovery. I know how muscles can affect pain. If they are tight, one can get killer headaches. I already knew about pressure point therapy, and self administer it with my thumb tip and finger tips at the base of my skull behind my ear across those two big supportive neck muscles. (I hope this helps some people out there, and it is interesting AND a work in progress with definite results so far, though persistence is needed). 

my condition sounds a lot like yours. My advise is don't go to an endodontist because he'll want to do root canals and it might be TMJ. Go see a neuromuscular dentist.

Sorry, I have the same thing as you and it's miserable!! I thought I was crazy when the pain felt like a drill and a sledgehammer was going into my right ear, jaw, and neck. OUCH! I feared passing out as well.



Hope it helps, but I use a heating pad on the painful area. It's soothing and it helps better than cold anything. It's been warm outside and drinking warm liquids is no fun, but less painful. If you have heating pad or hot water bottle, use it. It will help alleviate the pain some until you get some better treatment and hopefully, some answers. I am clueless.



My arm doesn't hurt like you mentioned yours does. I've heard things about heart attacks with jaw and arm pain in women. Have you been checked for any heart problems? If it's affecting your ears, though, it's highly unlikely to be due to any cardiac issues. My guess is an ENT would be the best for it. Have you seen a dentist lately? I once had an abscess that spread so down to my stomach and it was due to a bad tooth. I had a shot of penicillin and a week later, a root canal. This pain with mine feels similar to an abscess, but not quite. It feels in the bone. (like someone shot me in the jaw)



I pray you get relief. I had bridgework done on my low right side 10 and half years ago and a year ago, I cracked the far back tooth on that side, but it's the bridge--not a real tooth. My dentist filed it down and all was ok. I'm clueless on my problem and fear going to the dentist. It costs a fortune and I've already spent that on my teeth. Gosh, good luck to ya.. I wish and pray you the best. Thanks!!!

Sorry, I have the same thing as you and it's miserable!! I thought I was crazy when the pain felt like a drill and a sledgehammer was going into my right ear, jaw, and neck. OUCH! I feared passing out as well.



Hope it helps, but I use a heating pad on the painful area. It's soothing and it helps better than cold anything. It's been warm outside and drinking warm liquids is no fun, but less painful. If you have heating pad or hot water bottle, use it. It will help alleviate the pain some until you get some better treatment and hopefully, some answers. I am clueless.



My arm doesn't hurt like you mentioned yours does. I've heard things about heart attacks with jaw and arm pain in women. Have you been checked for any heart problems? If it's affecting your ears, though, it's highly unlikely to be due to any cardiac issues. My guess is an ENT would be the best for it. Have you seen a dentist lately? I once had an abscess that spread so down to my stomach and it was due to a bad tooth. I had a shot of penicillin and a week later, a root canal. This pain with mine feels similar to an abscess, but not quite. It feels in the bone. (like someone shot me in the jaw)



I pray you get relief. I had bridgework done on my low right side 10 and half years ago and a year ago, I cracked the far back tooth on that side, but it's the bridge--not a real tooth. My dentist filed it down and all was ok. I'm clueless on my problem and fear going to the dentist. It costs a fortune and I've already spent that on my teeth. Gosh, good luck to ya.. I wish and pray you the best. Thanks!!!

I READ THIS AND HAVE THE SIMULAR ISSUE. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH TMD, WHICH IS WHEN THE DISC INBETWEEN YOUR JAW JOINT HAS MOVED, IT LAYS NEXT TO EAR DRUM/CANAL. I HAVE CONSTENT MIGRAINES OR VASCULAR HEADACHES ACHING THROBBING JAW JOINTS, NECK PAIN, FACIAL PAIN ETC... MY JAW IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, THIS IS ALL THE CAUSE OF GRINDING OF THE TEETH FROM STRESS OR TRAUMA TO THE JAW. I'VE SPOKEN WITH AN EXCESS OF DOCS AND TRIED TO GET TO SEE A MYFAXCIALL SURGEON. LETS JUST SAY A LONG WAIT. NOT TO MENTION I'M PREGNANT ALMOST 5 MONTHS AND I TAKE PAIN MEDS WHEN PAIN IS BAD. I'M ALWATS SCARED THAT TAKING VICODIN WILL HARM MY UNBORN CHILD BUT HAVING THE PAIN AND TAKING JUST TYLENOL DOESNT WORK , IF I TRY TO JUST BARE THROUGH THE PAIN MY MUSCLES GET SO TENSE AND TIGHT AND I GET STRESSED, WHICH ISNT GOOD FOR BABY. I EVEN GO GET MASSAGES OCCASIIONALLY FOR THIS ISSUE BUT THAT TENDS TO BARE A HOLE IN MY POCKET. LETS JUST SAY IT SUCKS HAVING FACIAL PAIN BECAUSE BEING A FOODIE LIKE MYSELF AND NOTBEING ABLE TO ENJOY FOOD OR CHEW SUCKS A BIG ONE!!

ALSO I GET PAIN IN MY SHOULDER AND ARM NUMBNESS. I'VEHAD THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS. HAD MRI DONE CHIROPRACTIC CARE ETC.. BUT I WAS SURPRISED THAT TMJ LEADS TO TMD AND HAVING THAT CAN CAUSE ALL THE ISSUES I'M HAVING. YOU CAN HAVE SURGERY ON YOUR JAW AND I HEARD THEY CAN ALSO TAKE SOME NERVES OUT BUT YOU MAY HAVE NO FEELING IN THAT SIDE OF THE FACE. WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING JUST TO BE RELIEVED.

Hi steve, just had to reply I cried reading your post because I have had the same thoughts of death being a relief. 4 months ago i started getting a stabbing pain in my right ear. Saw the gp who sent me to a ear specialist right away she said it is caused by my jaw because I wear dentures, So saw the dentist and dental surgeon both said no way it is not from the jaw. Today the paid started extending to my righ cheek bone. it is a constant ache with periods of lightening shocks in my cheekbone. but unfortunatly i'm sure the ear specialist will not do anything for me

I am having some of these same symptoms with jaw/tooth/ear discomfort. TMJ sounds like the best diagnosis with my case. I am wondering that while these pains if anyone noticed that the pains stoppped, briefly, or longer periods by swallowing? Yes by swallowing, regardless if it was liguid or dry, the pain would subside or even stop while I could get some sleep. Sometimes just sitting up would help.

Any and all info would be appreciated, thank you

Jeff

See your DDS for TMJ - I had similar experience.

google Chiari 1 Malformation symptoms. The pain you are experiencing and other similar issues are also that of Chiari 1. Chiari causes an imbalance of CSF flow causing pressure and pain in head, ears, teeth, jaw, neck, shoulder etc. . . It also subsides when laying down. Most doctors are unaware of this and it goes undiagnosed for years.

I have dealt with this pain for about 15 years. I have cured it many times via several methods... a TMJ specialist who made me a special mouthpiece (but it moved my jaw and made me look funny so I opted to not have my jaw permanently rewired), a TMJ chiropractor who made me feel like jello (heaven), an acupuncturist, regular chiropractic... all this helped but the pain always came back. For me, I think it comes back when I am stressed and it is further aggravated by drinking coffee and alcohol. Tonight the pain was really bad and I cured my pain with approx 20 organic blueberries, 1/2 of a raw garlic clove, and fresh ginger tea (cut up actual ginger root, put in boiling water with honey)...

***this post is edited by moderator *** *** web addresses not allowed***Please read our Terms of Use

 ... I was going to go to my spice cabinet for the turmeric but my pain was already gone. It was incredible. You guys should try it!! I just think its so amazing that we have everything we need to cure almost anything and it comes straight from the earth. No need to go to the doctor and take harmful medications. Hope you all get some relief soon. This pain is really the worst! Try some of these anti-inflammatory foods and see if they do the trick. Good luck!

iv had an ear infection for the last 2 and ahalf years that turned into a inner ear infection and is now left with the all those symptoms and the only thing i found that relieves the pain is acupuncture

Many of you who describe the experience of *extreme* facial pain should look up TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA. It may be what you are suffering from. My father went through this for years, many years ago. It can be treated with anti-seizure medications such as the ones they give epileptics, because these medicines function on a neurological level, sort of shutting off your nerves. It's a nerve pain and is often called the suicide pain. They say it is 10 times the pain of childbirth, on your face! Acupunture did wonders for my dad so I highly recommend it. Hope you all figure out what's wrong and get relief soon!

I am experiencing exactly the same problem. I have been back and too to doctors and dentist. At present I am on co-codimol which did help at first but to-day pain has come back.
No one seems to be able to diagnose the problem. I first experienced this pain 6 months ago and it has been intermittent but at present is bad.
I was also told I had COPD which dr. says I don't.
Doesn'tseem to be an answer.

Good luck

Helen

I had alot of stress and had TMJ which got to the point that I could not open my mouth until noon each day. I changed to things and after 20+ years...I have never had it return. First, I started keeping a small separation between my teeth and used my tounge to support it. This kept me from clenching. Second, I stopped using Crest toothpaste as I had used it forever and i think I became allergic to it. I have more stress than ever in my life, but at least the TMJ has not returned.

.I have multiple sclerosis. You explained it trigeminol neurolgia. I also get Sharp shooting pains feels like I'm being shocked. I take gabapentin 300 twice a day. I wish you luck :)