Cocaine nose/face/mouth pain - PLEASE help!

[spicekid]

Hi, I'm a 24 year old male and first started doing cocaine about 3 and a half years ago whilst on holiday. Basically did it most weekends since, but only at the weekends not during the week. Towards the end of last year I decided I no longer wanted to do coke, and started moving away from my friends who were all still doing it. Did it for the last time before Christmas, so 3 months ago now.
Thing is, since then I've had the worst pain in my nose I've ever experienced. The pain is centered on the bridge of my nose, and I get shooting pains in my septum and pain when breathing in. I have a severe pain in the roof of my mouth, feel as though I have liquid dripping down the back of my throat, and basically just feel like my nose is collapsing. I never had any problems whilst I did coke, it's only since January this year that the pain has appeared.

The tip of my nose is definitely narrower on either side (this is something I noticed about a year ago, but didn't realise at the time that cocaine could be the cause) and has been getting gradually worse over the past 3 months. I feel that if it doesn't stop the 'narrow points' on either side of my nose will meet in the middle and my nose will collapse - is this possible?

I've been to see an ENT specialist to said my septum wasn't perforated and that I didn't have a hole in the roof of my mouth, but I'm not convinced. He tried to reassure me and has given me a low dose of anti depressant which can be effective for facial pain, but I honestly can't understand why it's still happening now I've stopped using the coke. ENT guy is gonna refer me for a CT scan, but it's so frustrating as it can be 6 to 8 weeks inbetween seeing him, and in that time I feel like my nose deteriorates and the pain is getting worse.

Sorry for the long post, I'm just really anxious and scared. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[avisg]

That is very scary .I can understand your fears .Maybe you should get a second opinion

[gizzy32]

i have a damage nose from 5 years of heavy coke use also, i damaged my septum and it was scary. im not sure as to why it's still happening for you. although the hole never heals, my nose has improved greatly, but it took a couple months of being clean. im almost 5 months clean now, and i still have minor problems, but nothing too bad. if your specialist said your septum is not perforated then it's not. i wish i had an answer for you, but my nose has healed somewhat. glad your off the coke though buddy, it's a terrible drug

[Savas]

If you find the antidepressant isn't helping then consider stopping taking it. Aytipcal facial pain from cocaine use is not uncommon, and most doc's assume it's all in your mind (hence, the antidepressant).

Are you getting this more in the morning, or during the day?

I remember getting it but it wasn't too bad for me. At it's worst, I took ibuprofin and used hot/steaming towel wraps on my face.

It isn't by chance your allergy season? It could be you're having a sensitivity reaction from the damage from cocaine use.

I also took a decent amount of iron and other bone related supplements at the time. I'm not saying ANY of this was helpful, it's just what I did.  I couldn't swear to this day if it either just went away or all this helped make it hurt less and dissapate quicker.

[cathy5841]

i agree with avisg, get another opinion.  i too have nose damage from the coke, but my pain is no longer there.  good luck to you
cathy

[Savas]

The one harsh thing is I don't think they can do much about it. They can restructure a collapsed septum due to burned away cartilage...but unless something's changed in the last 15 years (may have, been a while) they can't give you something to repair mild-moderate damage.

I should rephrase that; they won't give you something. Any treatments would generally be over the counter and most specialists don't tend to think in terms of OTC/herbal/vitamin treatment.

[spicekid]

Thanks for the quick response. I just don't understand what's happening to me. The pain is constant, all day, never stops. If it's cold outside it hurts my septum pretty bad, and when I'm lying on the couch it feels as though someone is standing on the bridge of my nose. The pain in the roof of my mouth also aches all day, and despite what the doctor said I'm sure there's a little hole there, as I can feel liquids dripping down my throat a few minutes after drinking, but again maybe that's just me worrying about it.

Basically it's taking over my life. I've got a good job and amazing girlfriend and I just want that whole episode of my life to be over. I wake up every morning and my heart pounds until I look in the mirror and see if my nose is any worse.

[Jjjjjohn1]

Cold weather ruins teeth an nose an also being  lyin crown the blood pressure ruins to teeth hence why hurts more on a night

[gizzy32]

this is a gross question, just want to know how bad the hole is. can you put you finger through one nostril to the other. if you can than chances are you have a detached septum

[poetrygirl1960]

It could be that you didn't feel pain before because the coke masked it.  It use to be used for pain and numbing.  I totally understand your concern and fear, but remember you are now feeling these emotions bare naked with no buffer and that really makes you nervous.

I'm so happy for you getting off of that.  Be good to yourself right now, it's a fragile time.  Take all of the opportunity you can find to rest and recover completely.  That might mean bed rest a few days and keeping out of the cold or anything else that makes your pain worse.

Lisa

[JayDiddy]

Sorry to hear you are suffering. To me it sounds like you might have an INFECTION which could be very dangerous. I would either get in to see another Doc, and soon, or check out the Emergency Room.

Maybe you should pay and post on the Medical Forum??

Keep us posted how you do and maybe it will help someone else who has a like condition.

Best of luck to you,
Jay

[Savas]

Have you tried taking an antihistimine? If it's just a skin cell thing, they do have a numbing effect. It could help relieve the pain.(I wish I could think of a better suggestion).

Did he check for infection? I'd assume he would...but a mild infection could cause this.

[spicekid]

My GP gave me two rounds of antibiotics in february in case it was an infection, but that did nothing to take away the pain. In response to gizzy32 - I don't have a 'visible' hole in the septum, and both the GP and ENT guy said they also couldn't see any signs of a hole. Despite what the ENT guy said about my nose looking healthy I still can't take my mind off it. The pain is very bad and there all the time, and I KNOW something is wrong but I can't think what to do about it. I've researched it on the net nearly every day for the past couple of months and think I might have damaged the lateral cartilages in my nose, which I 'think' would cause the dints on either side as they appear to be where the lateral cartilages would normally be, but again, I'm not sure. Does anyone know any number / service I could call that could offer me more advice? I don't think I can wait another 2 or 3 months for a scan. I'm based in the UK by the way so any numbers / health advice lines would have to be UK numbers. Thanks

[gizzy32]

i am so sorry, im not sure who you would call about this. i find it strange that he can't see no hole and your having these problems, i am really baffled by this one. i know the exact pain your talking about and it makes your eyes water. when you wake up in the morning everyday it feels like someone just punched you in the nose, but in most cases it gets better after a month. i wish you luck and im sorry i couldn't really answer your question

[BornTwoRiff]

go to your dentist to make sure its not a front tooth giving you the problem.. An x-ray will rule that out .. besides the ENT would have told you if it was a hole there.. Now it could be an infection in sinus but again ENT would have seen that.. I would go to dentist next.

[gizzy32]

i agree BornTwoRiff. great point and advice.

[spicekid]

Thanks BornTwoRiff, but I've already been to the dentist and got the all clear. Ironically, I've always took care of my teeth and have never even had a filling - shame I didn't have the same sense to take care of the rest of my body eh!!

It's just so frustrating not being able to talk to anyone. The ENT guy said he would speak to me again in four weeks (two weeks from now) but even that feels like a lifetime! I can kinda put up with the pain if I load myself up on painkillers, but I've had to stop those because 2 months of ibuprofen and paracetamol each day gave me a rash and mouth ulcers, so I' back down to nothing for a weeks or so. It's the changing shape of my nose that I'm so worried about - I just don't understand what's happening. I know everyone's body is different, and that 3 and a half years of regular cocaine use (on a weekend) is quite a lot, but it's still leaves 6 days each week when I didn't do anything. Plus, now I've stopped I don't understand why the problem is getting worse. It looks like someone is pinching my nose at the tip on either side of the bridge, and every morning I think it looks worse.

[Onejobbob]

Did you ever find out what it was

[kris123]

I did coke for about three years and did about 7grams but never had what you are talking about - maybe go to a dr you trust and talk with them about it.

[kris123]

Opps - saw where you did go talk with someone - the only time I hurt was right after I was done - red nose, gums hurt like crazy, nose running ect

[spicekid]

When you say you did 7 grams do you mean every day or every week? Were you a daily user? I only ever used on a weekend, with the occasional tuesday / thursday night. But 99% of my use of over the past 3 and a half years has been weekend only, never daily or during the week. And the majority of people I know have used for longer than me, and still do, and yet don't seem to have any problems at all.

[smooth123]

I have the same problem but not as bad.  I get the pain in my nose every now and then and i have stopped for over a month now.  My nose is changing shape and i don;t know if it will stop.  I feel the same as you my friend.  Your not alone.  Good luck and i hope you feel better soon.  Keep me posted.

[worried878]

The mucosal tissues in your nose can thin and not actuallyperforate/break through...but the thin lining would be enough to cause symptoms and pain and perhaps some restructuring of your nose do to the decreased support...those tissues should strengthen and rebuild with rest...swabbing those tissues with an antibiotic ointment like bactroban could help...u need to see an ENT...but swabs or cotton balls in the cavity could help hold your normal structure of your nose until u can get in to see an ent

[dippychick]

hi,i cant beleive that i have actually come across a site where people r discussing this problem! i noticed my nose changing shape about a year & half ago and have had exactly the same symptoms as you. also been to the ent twice,both saying that i have no real internal damage such as holes and been to a highly reccomended surgeon 3 times as my nose has gradually been changing! there is nothing that anybody can do to correct the shape of your nose...you have damaged the lower layer of skin in the nose which causes the nose to weaken & lose its structure. i also got the same pains in the same place...and when i exercised it was extreme. the ent guy said it sounded more likely to be the nerves up there causing it. Just like you,they said the inside of my nose was intact and not ready to cave in! i have the same feeling every morning when i get up & look in the mirror..i even went for hypnotherapy to try and focus my attention away from it but it didnt work. im afraid you've just got to ride this one out. i would love to know when this shape change will end as its taken over my life..its almost an obsession!! ive asked about skin grafts and fillers but nobody will risk making it look any worse.

[carliho]

my nose hurts also when i do coke it throbs.when i touch it u can feel it pulseateing.anyone ever had this.

[lb87]

hey all i too had this problem after stopping i noticed my nose changing shape, its been 51 days now and i must say it is gradualy getting better the bottom was ponched and the top above thwe bridge and i have a small dent just below the bridge on the right side of my nose, i am pleased to say it has just started to get better the lower part is filling back out the yop is taking longer!

the top will take longer as it has bone up there and is harder to heal, also this is where most the coke sits you generaly get the coke out of the bottom part of your nose.

the dent is now very tiny but still there.

these things take time

i too had pain all down my septum this will be due to the chaange in shape and the tissue trying to heal i should think.

now that the bottom is healing more i only have the pain in the top prt of my nose but it is not as sever as what i am hearing you have

the best way to help yourself is get a saline spray use it in the morning and before bed and also during day whenever the pain gets at its worst.

DO NOT touch or play with your nose inside or out this will retard the healing.

Take hot steamy showers tilt your head back and let some of the water run down your nose

DO NOT blow your nose, if you have to be gentle.

Hope this helps xx

[newmanagment]

your noses will never heal completly, as it is cartlidge and bone.  we had an army doctor on here for awhile, and he had tons of info about this on his page. It will stop changing shape eventually, but you will always be prone to nosebleeds , and it will never look perfect again. IF you continue to do cocaine , You will burn a hole completly thru the nose. My best friend to this day has a hole in his nose, and it will never heal. He got it when he wuz 17, he had been doin coke for bout 4 years almost daily. so quit snorting dope, **** ain good for ya!!