This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as:
Alzheimer's Disease,
ALS,
Autism, Brain Cancer,
Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain,
Epilepsy,
Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders,
Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
I am familiar with this ailment as I have suffered with it for two years. I started with a sore throat that went away for a brief period then came back. Went to my PCP with the complaint and therefore tried anti-biotics, allergy medication & testing for thyroid. Everything came back normal so I said enough! Send me to an ENT doctor. Upon my first visit, he diagnosed me with nuralgia. I then looked to the Internet for help and low and behold there really was an actual disorder. I had all the symptoms stated. I was put on gabapentin and it worked for nearly a year (did have pain on and off throughout). Then the pain came back and the ENT said there was nothing else he could do for me and sent me to a nerurosurgeon. They wanted to do surgeyry but I wasn't ready so they increased the dosage of the medication and I was good on that for another year (did have pain on and off again). Then the pain was back again with no relief with another increase of medication. They also added tegretol and the combination of medications were making me sick and my quality of life was being interferred with so I opted for the surgery. I had the microvascular decompression done June 2008 and so far so good, no pain. Was stated that the ninth cranial nerve was being compressed by a blood vessel.
Good luck and I hope you find relief for yourself. Be assertive with your doctors!
MaryAnn