18th March 2007
Hello,
The diagnosies you've been given could be correct - although trigeminal neuralgia is meant to be one of the worst types of pain out there - it's been described as excruciating - so my guess is that kind of pain would have inspired a trip to casualty. The tmj or migraine angle is also possible - although if you experience migraine and it manifests itself differently maybe not. Although the pattern of migraine pain can change. TMj is also definitely a possibility - you don't require an overbite or to be a grinder to have tmj. It can definitely have all the symptoms you describe- furthermore you may clench your teeth whilst sleeping and not even know it.
One thing that did occur to me that you didn't mention is cluster headaches. All the pain you describe is one sided - this is characteristic of cluster headaches, I was also interested that your eye waters - another feature. I'm guessing if you have it you might have a slightly atypical form, but I would look it up and see what you think.
The lunatic thing about all this is that you have been sent for an MRI and tests and yet no one has referred you to a neurologist!!!!!! Why not? I simply don't get that AT ALL. I can guess at possibilities based on what I know and what you've said, but obviously I'm not a doctor. If you have any of the above conditions and are in constant pain, then you should be given either a migraine preventative, there is a drug you can take for tmj - amitriptyline etc... You should be in the care of a specialist.
In your shoes I would absolutely push for a referral to neurologist. It's good that you are seeing someone in a dental hospital, but I'm guessing they will want to make sure that a neurologist has also taken a look at you. You should see both. Maybe the dental hospital will refer you on.
Hope this helps,
best,
The diagnosies you've been given could be correct - although trigeminal neuralgia is meant to be one of the worst types of pain out there - it's been described as excruciating - so my guess is that kind of pain would have inspired a trip to casualty. The tmj or migraine angle is also possible - although if you experience migraine and it manifests itself differently maybe not. Although the pattern of migraine pain can change. TMj is also definitely a possibility - you don't require an overbite or to be a grinder to have tmj. It can definitely have all the symptoms you describe- furthermore you may clench your teeth whilst sleeping and not even know it.
One thing that did occur to me that you didn't mention is cluster headaches. All the pain you describe is one sided - this is characteristic of cluster headaches, I was also interested that your eye waters - another feature. I'm guessing if you have it you might have a slightly atypical form, but I would look it up and see what you think.
The lunatic thing about all this is that you have been sent for an MRI and tests and yet no one has referred you to a neurologist!!!!!! Why not? I simply don't get that AT ALL. I can guess at possibilities based on what I know and what you've said, but obviously I'm not a doctor. If you have any of the above conditions and are in constant pain, then you should be given either a migraine preventative, there is a drug you can take for tmj - amitriptyline etc... You should be in the care of a specialist.
In your shoes I would absolutely push for a referral to neurologist. It's good that you are seeing someone in a dental hospital, but I'm guessing they will want to make sure that a neurologist has also taken a look at you. You should see both. Maybe the dental hospital will refer you on.
Hope this helps,
best,