Random Pain

I am a 25 year old female with a history of tmj (but usually only the right side bothers me) and cold sores (always in the right corner of my lips). Two days ago I woke up feeling like someone had smacked me with a phone book on the right side of my face. It felt bruised and tingly...kind of sensitive to the touch, but there was no bruising no swelling so temperature change and it went from above my right eyebrow across to my temple and down under my jaw line. Even my eye hurt a little. The whole right side of my face basically. Consequently I also woke up with a several cold sores in the corner which hurt worse than any I've had. Yesterday it felt the same but around my cheek and jaw it started feeling warm to touch. This morning it feels more centered on just my temple and cheek and jaw. Painful to touch hot and maybe slightly swollen. And no I wasn't hit with anything. Some people have said Bells Palsy but there's no paralysis, maybe a little stiffness in my cheek but that's a maybe.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Any ulcers or other symptoms like the spread of the cold sore?  I'm initially thinking shingles possibly?

[dehazelrigg]

I don't think my last message went through so I'm trying again. I have had several ulcers recently in the past month and this cold sore is the second one in a couple of months. My friends say they keep coming back because of stress (lots of exams). I've never had chicken pox and I don't have any rashes so I'm not sure about the shingles. I'm going to see my doctor who did my tmj surgery tomorrow so hopefully we'll figure something out. Not even sure if it has anything to do with my jaw though.

[dehazelrigg]

oh and I've had a headache every day

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

Have the symptoms change since you first noticed them?  Are there more cold sore spots now?  Is the pain on the outside of the face or inside the mouth?

[dehazelrigg]

The pain has almost faded away, but yes my temple and ear felt kind of cold. My ear almost felt like the was something cold in it. Then my cheek and jaw felt warm like it had inflammation in it or something. The doctor I went to said it was just a herpetic outbreak and would go away on it's own, he didn't really look into it much though. For $50 I figured I'd at least get x-rayed or something.

[Jerome Tsang, DDS]

If it is herpes, it'll go away on its own.  It does sound somewhat more severe than your average cold sore though.  Next time that it starts to occur, you may want to contact your doctor immediately for a prescription of anti-viral medication to speed up the healing process.