Neck, ear and jaw pain

[jg1124]

This is somewhat difficult to explain but I will try. I am having a problem with my left ear/jaw area. The pain will start gradually but increase over time. It casuses my jaw to feel tight and I have terrific pain in my ear. It hurts to turn my head to the right (keep in mind it is my left ear that hurts) and touching my ear causes near vomit inducing pain. There is a spot just below my ear that if I massage it, the pain subsides for a minute or two and then starts back up. Usually, if I can lay still and/or go to sleep the pain goes away and may not resurface for several days but always comes back.
I went to an ear doctor but since it wasn't an actual infection he did not offer much help. Can someone please offer me some advise on what this might be and how I can try and overcome it? Thanks!

[DrKalraMD]

Hi, possibly it is neuralgia, in conditions like trigeminal neuralgia similar kind of symptoms are seen. Do consult neurologist for investigations. Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder affecting the areas of the face where the trigeminal nerve's branches are distributed, including the lips, eyes, nose, scalp, forehead, and upper and lower jaws. Often caused by an artery that compresses the nerve, the condition can bring about stabbing, mind-numbing, electric shock-like pain from just a light wind or a finger's glance of the cheek.

Medications like carbamazepine, gabapentin, amitryptline etc are usually prescribed for this condition. Please visit website for more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigeminal_neuralgia