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567677 tn?1246767776

how bout this? Trigeminal neuralgia or not?

Ok so I have bilateral trigeminal neuralgia for those that don't know. The left side is by far the worst with only a few attacks on the right that are no where near as intense as the left.

So my question is: Is it normal for the left side of my face to have big long red streaks as if to follow the trigeminal nerve? If I keep heat on my face it is not as noticeable but is still visible but only if you are looking for it. If there is a day I do not put heat on the left side it is very prominent and the left side also is very swollen most of the time.

If anyone has an insite on this please let me know as in all my reading I have found nothing about this particular problem. Thanks!

Chick
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198419 tn?1360242356
Chicky! How are the red marks?

Adding on concern...
shell
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi

How you feeling now, were the drs able to tell you what the red streaks were caused by?

Hope you feeling better,

Melissa
Helpful - 0
567677 tn?1246767776
Thank you. I need all the healing thoughts I can get. You probably know how difficult it is for ppl to understand how this can make it impossible to carry out normal activities. But it does. Especially since it has been constant since November of 2007. I have not had many hours of total relief. It is very discouraging.

Thank you all for being uplifting and informative.
I went to the dr's today and they did not seem to think I have any infection. I was in a great deal of pain. The pain management doc increase the Morphine sulfate from 30 mg every 12 hrs to 20mg every 8 and also gave me 15mg quick release for breakthrough as needed.

He could tell I was in a great deal of pain today because my blood pressure was elevated. 158/96. So there was not a question of if there was pain or not. Just by b/p numbers they can tell with me as usually I am in the normal range when the pain is only mild. He did the thing with his little flashlight looked in my eyes and had me follow with my eyes looked in my ears and my mouth. There was no evidence of infection upon his eval.

He did not have an answer for the red blotches on my face. If they continue or get more prominent I am supposed to let either him, my gp or neuro know so that other test may be run.

I really thank you all!
Chick
Helpful - 0
645390 tn?1338555377
I, unfortunately, suffer from trigeminal neuralgia also. The pain can be excruciating! I know how awful it is, when even the air hurts it. I have never had any red color on my face though. I hope you feel better soon. My neuro gave me trileptal and it did help somewhat.

I am sending healing thoughts your way,
Michelle
Helpful - 0
567677 tn?1246767776
one more thing I just wanted to mention. The neuro I am seeing is leaning toward some type of demyelinating disease just not anything specific yet.
Helpful - 0
567677 tn?1246767776
Oh yes jen the pain is all of those not all at the same time but electric skocks and burning most of the time combined. I appreciate you answering my questions and I will asked the gp tomorrow. Thanks so much for the good advise as well as the information.

I actually had an episode today that I wasn't sure I would make it through. The wind was gusting here and well, lets just say my face didn't like it very much. I was crying and moaning and groaning.

I was unable to talk because even that hurt. I hate this disorder it really ***** and keeps getting worse. Neuro changed me to 300mg trileptal twice a day just Friday and it is not doing anything yet. Hopefully it with the Morphine sulfate will start to give me at least 24 hours of relief.

At this point, I would go for just that. Maybe even 12 hours relief, or heck 6. Anyway today finally the severe episode eased enough that I was able to talk. So any help or info I can get at this point is helpful.

Thanks again, Chick
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
I can completely understand not wanting to go to the dentist!  However, there should be no visible evidence of TN on the face itself.  The nerve does not cause the skin to redden, nor does it swell particularly.  

The reason TN happens is because the nerve has been damaged, or is being compressed. Your pain should feel like stabbing, electric shocks, burning, pressing, or crushing pain.

So definitely ask your GP about it tomorrow!
Helpful - 0
567677 tn?1246767776
Just to clarify the swelling is not big huge deformation it is mild but noticable. the red lines are mild also just vaguely noticable but my husband and I see them because we are checking it out constantly looking for any changes or new things that may be helpful to drs

I may just be overly sensitive to the fact of the lines and swelling. IDK I do know that the pain is absolutely the worst pain ever and it is very exhausting  because I hardly get very much needed sleep. With no remission of the attacks.

Helpful - 0
567677 tn?1246767776
Thanks!

My teeth are not the best in the world but I have taken care of them somewhat. The neuro told me that some have swelling but said nothing about the red streaks. They run along the same pattern as the nerve does that is why I was confused. I have to see 2 dr's tomorrow. My GP and pn management.

I will asked them about it. I have had a real hard battle with this and hardly any relief time PM started me on Opana er and Opana quick release now changed to Morphine Sulfate at 30mg every 12hrs. I see him tomorrow about Morphine Sulfate quick release if there is such a thing he told me there was anyway.

As far as my teeth I hate to go to the dentist because I am already in so much pain and keeping my mouth open for a long period of time is absolutely aweful and the last thing I want to do is cause more agony for myself. However they have checked my teeth and say that it is not a tooth or teeth problem even though I could use some work in my mouth.

The type of pain is definately TN and the swelling is mild. I was thinking maybe the inflamed nerve could be causing the discoloration. Some of the time the whole left side is red and sometimes it is red along the nerve branches.

Thanks so much and I will let you know what the drs say tomorrow.
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Swelling and red streaks are not because of the neuralgia.  It sounds very much as if you have an infection, possibly of a tooth.  You'll need to go in right away and have it seen to.  An infection in the head area can be problematic, because the infection can spread to other parts of your body.  You could end up with blood poisoning if you're not careful!

So go to the doctor immediately, emschick - let us know what they say!
Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Hey Chicky,

OH MY GIRL!  I'm sorry I don't know, but I hope someone does.  Has there always been streaking? You've been suffering with this for so very long.  I wish you weren't and that there was something I can do.

Hoping someone is more familiar ...

Thinking of you...
Shell
Helpful - 0
807381 tn?1245083111
I have TN also, and I have NEVER had the red streaks.

When you have an infection, you can get red streaks.  Like if you have a cut, and then it starts branching out in red streaks..  I would DEFINATELY call my doc.  

How are your teeth?  I know that I tend to neglect my teeth because I chalk it up to TN pain, then it gets abcessed.  Call your dentist and have him check.
Helpful - 0
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