Re: Change in Headaches - Neuralgia?

Posted By barbara on March 25, 1999 at 20:52:15:

In Reply to: Change in Headaches - Neuralgia? posted by Roslyn on March 24, 1999 at 09:37:02:






Dear Doctor,
I am a 28 year old female with a sudden change in headache type.  I have had migraine headaches on the left side of my head since I was 14 years old.  Generally, they were infrequent and manageable with Midrin (first) and later, Esgic Plus (used sparingly, since one prescription lasted 6 months+).
About 3 1/2 years ago, I began to feel a continuos twitching in my left eye, which seemed to disappear after two weeks.  After which, I noticed ptosis of the left eyelid.  Also, while a headache was occurring, I had constriction of the left pupil.
Shortly after this, I became pregnant and had virtually no headaches during this pregnancy, or while nursing.  In December '98, just more than a year after my baby was born, my headaches seemed to become more frequent, but still manageable.
In Jan. '99, I awoke with a different type of headache, which has never gone away!  I experience a daily pain, which centers around my left eye, but is a burning sensation (unlike my migrain pain).  Sometimes there is a sharp/stabbing pain in the upper corner of my left eye that accompanies the burning feeling.  The burning sensation seems to vary in severity and location (eye, cheek and back of head) from day to day.  I feel the burning from the moment I open my eyes in the AM.
I have seen 2 Neurologists.  The first insisted that this was still migraine pain, which had changed form.  She gave me Amerge and Inderal, both of which had no affect.  All tests(MRI, EEG, X-ray and Blood) were normal.  The second Neurologist felt that I have Trigeminal Neuralgia and gave me Elavil.  However, I have not tried this yet, since I may be pregnant.  I have tried electrical stimulation on the back of my head/neck, which was very sensitive on the left side only. I also had a nerve block done yesterday, which had no positive effect.
I am unsure whether this is a Neuralgia, migraine, both or something else.  I have family in Cleveland ( my brother-in-law practices anastesia at Loraine Community Hospital) and would gladly come to Cleveland, if you think you can help.
Sincerely,
Roslyn    




I would like to ask an additional question, would trigeminal neuralgia cause the upper and lower gums be numb on the left side and have a small amount of saliva coming out of crack of left lip?
Thanks
Barbara