Head/Neck muscle twist/damage

Hi,
I am sure that some of the muscles connecting the neck to head(somewhere near the ear and jaw area) is twisted/turned.

Throughout the day, I am kind of compelled to keep on pulling some muscles in the neck/head area. It is not in my control and everything else ceases when I am on that activity. The Neuro thinks it is glosso pharengeal neuralgia. I am not sure what it is.

It is a very very painful process I am going through, min by min, hr by hr, day by day. It has badly hindered all my day to day activities.

Kindly suggest.

I just want to know if there is something in the medical world which can alleviate my suffering.

[DrNavneetMD]

Hello Dear,
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a condition in which there are repeated episodes of severe pain in the tongue, throat, ear, and tonsils, which can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Symptoms include severe pain in back of the nose and throat,back of the tongue ,ear,throat,tonsil area, larynx
The pain occurs in episodes and may be severe. It can sometimes be triggered by:c hewing, coughing, laughing ,speaking, swallowing .
The goal of treatment is to control pain.  Pain killers such as aspirin and acetaminophen are not very effective for the relief of neuralgia.
The most effective drugs are anti-seizure medications, such as carbamazepine, gabapentin, and phenytoin. Some antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, may help certain people.
In severe cases, when pain is difficult to treat, surgery to take pressure off the glossopharyngeal nerve may be needed. This surgery is generally considered effective. If a cause of the neuralgia is found, treatment should control the underlying problem.
You can refer http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001636.htm
Best

[elantra2006]

Hi,

I had been diagnosed with glossopharyngeal neuralgia in 2006. I had a sharp stabbing, electrifying pain in my throat region that was felt upon swallowing, coughing, drinking, eating and talking. After dealing with my PCP for several weeks, I insisted to be seen by an ENT. He diagnosed my situation as glossopharyngeal neuralgia. I was put on gabapentin twice a day and it helped for a while although I had break through pain. The dosage was increased approximately a year later after being sent to a neurosurgeon. Another year went by with the increased medication, then the pain started to worsen and I was put on carbamazepine also. The combination of medication made me feel sick so I opted for the micro vascular decompression surgery to relive the pain. I had the surgery in June of 2008 and have been pain free since then.

As for MS, I don’t know very much about it and I don’t’ know if you’d be a candidate for the surgery. If so, it may help.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me~elantra2006

Good luck,
MaryAnn