Sources for the information below are from the Mayo Clinic and other certified medical websites when I googled , “severe facial pain”
” Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, severe facial pain (affecting the face). It’s often described as a sharp shooting pain or like having an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums. ”
Causes of trigeminal neuralgia: It is usually caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve. This is the nerve insdie the skull that sends sensations of pain and touch from your face, teeth, and mouth to your brain. It is caused by a nearby blood vessel pressing on part of the nerve inside the skull. In rare cases trifeminal neuralgia can be caused by damage to the trifeminal nerve as a result of an underlying condition, such as multiple sclerosis, (MS) or a tumour.
Typically the attacks of pain can be brought on by activities that involve lightly touching the face, such as washing, eating, and brushing your teeth. It can be triggered by the win, air conditioning or movement of the face and head. Sometimes with no trigger at all.
For four days I have been having another episode, in excruciating pain. As stated above I googled, “severe facial pain,” and lo and behold, a comple description of what I have been going through. Finally a diagnosis, I have been battling this for a couple of years now and have questioned the dentist, who with xrays found no explanation. When I recently went to the endocrinologist, I described symptoms thinking it might be related to taking Prolia. He said any effects of the Prolia would have showed up on the xrays. He suggested that it souds nerve related and to see a neurologist.
After finding this information I contacted my neurologist, (through the portal of course). I told him my diagnosis and that the dentist’s xrays showed nothing and this is what the endocrinologist suggested, (a little fib). His nurse portaled me back asking to describe my symptoms but in the meantime he did call and I asked if he would call in a Rx to help with the pain. He did this and the pharmacy does not have the drug and I waited until today, Friday, and will pick it up as soon as I’m done with this post. I’ve been sleeping on the recliner, waking up every three hours to take more medicine. I’m afraid to put my head down, taking XS Tylenol and going through tubes of Orajel. I’m eating yogurt, apple sauce and soup. I’ve been alone, Pete is away this week. Thank you to my neighbor, she has helped tremendously.