Should I bother my neuro for this?

[dogmum]

Hi all.  It's been awhile since I posted anything; I've been trying to back-burner my health issues lately.  I hope you're all doing well.  I do have a new issue though, and now that it's been pestering me for a little over a week, I am starting to wonder...

I've been having painful electric shocks in my face, coming down directly over my left cheek bone.  They never last more than a few seconds at a time, but can be painful.  Does anyone else get these?  Is this somehow connected to my trigeminal nerve?  Is this a normal thing?  

If it was a steady/constant pain, I'd be sure of what to do... But this way, I'm not sure if it's something to talk to my neuro about or to just wait and see.  

Thanks in advance for any advice or insight into this.  
Laura

[dogmum]

Michelle, I think that this is out of my GPs league as well.  

Is this how TN usually starts?  Is it something that gets worse over time? I'm dealing with it so far.  It's more or less like the Lhermittes shock that I had down my leg last year and not as painful as I've heard that it can be, just making me nervous that it's starting up right before vacation.  I'm on the fence about this, but am going to make an effort to get in to see my neuro next week if I can.  

Thanks for your helpful reply.  My ipad drives me crazy sometimes too.  :)  

Laura

[kwarendorf]

""This iPad drives me crazy sometimes,  changes my words... ""

I turned off Auto-Correction.

Settings>General>Keyboard>Auto-Correction = OFF

Kyle

[michelleric]

This iPad drives me crazy sometimes,  changes my words...

I meant to say, if you have had this for a week call.

[michelleric]

I'd you have iPad it a week, I would call.  As for me, my internist doesn't really know much about the meds for ms, or related meds for symptoms.

The 1st line of meds for TN is generally either tegretal or trilepal.  If these don't work there r other meds.  I believe there is a health page on this.

The meds r for neuropathic pain, and the typical meds meds don't help.

So, I would definitely call Neuro since it has lasted a week, and u will be going on vacation soon. You don't want it to get worse while away,

Michelle

[dogmum]

PS - what kind of meds do they normally give for TN?  I might see if my GP will script me something before I go, just in case.  

[dogmum]

Good morning!  Thanks to you both...  :)

I don't have any upcoming appointments.  I had an appointment with an MSologist in chicago for monday that I cancelled.... prematurely, maybe.  Anyway, my neuro said in April to call him in September to see how things are going.  I've had this since about the 8th of August, and I keep hoping that it goes away, but I'm not sure if that's going to happen or not at this point.  I leave for Greece/Turkey/Israel on the 29th and I'm holding my breath that nothing goes wrong until that trip is over.  

Michelle, sorry that your a TN expert.  I've heard it can be awful.  :(  What I have is somewhat painful, but more like an electric shock running down that part of my face, dragging a line of pain behind it briefly.  (Does that make any sense at all?)  That's why I wasn't really sure if it was related to the trigeminal nerve or something else.  

I might give it the weekend and call my neuro on Monday if it's not resolved.  

[mayperl]

Good morning, Laura :)

I'm not familiar with TN although, I have woken up once with a burning face one side of my cheek bone under the eye.  It lasted for a day.  I took a lyrica for it and it went away.  It intensified if I touched it and pressed then, dragged my finger... *shrug* - I was curious... it was a new thing for me.

It happened once and never again.  

I would wait a day just like a normal symptom check, to see if it lasts or resolves on its own unless, it's too painful to bare.  Then, i might call my Dr.

[michelleric]

Hi Laura,

It definitely does sound like trigeminal neuralgia.  You said you were already diagnosed with that, are you on any meds for TN?

Oh wait, just re read your post.  Yes, it does sound like TN.  Do you have an upcoming appt with Neuro?  If you do, I would wait until then.  If it gets worse though, I would call.

That is what I would do anyway.  There are meds to help control TN, and they work for lots of people.  I am , unfortunately, an expert at TN, so if you have any questions ask away!

Michelle