Cause of Trigeminal Nerve irritation

[kimpton]

Hello.

For a few months my trigeminal nerve has been irritated.  It's the first and second branch.  I experience the electrical shock (more like a tickle) that I've experienced with Trigeminal Neuralgia but there's no pain.  It seems to happen often when my head is tilted forward/down and that makes me wonder if it could be an issue with my cervical spine.  I really don't have any unusual discomfort in my neck. I don't have headaches or sinus pressure or anything.  I now feel this daily and can have the electrical feeling as much as 20+ times a day.  I had MRI of my spine and brain a year ago and with no dx for the Trigeminal pain of the past.  Any ideas?  

[jenos352]

I don't know if this will help you, but I've had somewhat similar problems: Since March 2010 I have been having the trigeminal pain, which varied from tingles, sharp sudden pain, burning sensations along the trigeminal nerve in the cheek, temple, and around the right side of my mouth. These sensations lasted only a few seconds, occurring only on the right side. Since I also had dull tooth pain on the upper right side, I initially I went to my dentist, who took several bitewings, saying  everything looked good, suggesting I go to my doc for a possible sinus infection. Went to the doctor, who diagnosed a sinus infection, and put me on Amoxicillin, and the symptoms quieted down slightly. (I did have a little sinus achiness going on.) But the trigeminal issue was still there. I went back to another dentist for more X-rays (bitewings), wondering if there was a tooth infection missed by the first dentist... But he also said all looked well. Since the symptoms were not resolved, I thought I had a neck problem or TMJ issue. Went to several other medical professionals, yet not finding the source of the pain. It would especially hurt or throb when I would look down or lean forward.

Several nights ago my upper jaw hurt so bad that I called my dentist asking for an emergency visit, and said I believed I might have an impacted wisdom tooth. I knew this sounded crazy, because I've had my wisdom teeth removed 27 years ago. So the next day I had a panoramic X-ray done....and sure enough, I have an impacted wisdom tooth!!! Undoubtedly, this was infected several months ago, causing infection to get into my sinus cavities. It must have been really messing with the trigeminal nerve. Sounds like you didn't have the sinus pressure, so your problem may not at all be of a dental origin. But I thought I'd mention the very surprising root cause of my problem, in the off-chance yours might be similar. If not, I hope you find an answer... Best of luck!

[Dr. A. Srivastava]

Hi, This may be Trigeminal neuralgia as you have typical one sided facial pain extending to temple and eye( ophthalmic branch of trigeminal nerve may be involved) and sore gums of the teeth of same side (maxillary branch of 5th nerve). Trigeminal neuralgia may have a triggering factor like recent history of tooth extraction, touch, cold breeze or hot sensation etc. which you need to evaluate and avoid. Drug of choice for trigeminal neuralgia is carbamazepine but as the dose may vary according to severity therefore I would advice an oral medicine specialist consultation or at least a physician to confirm this diagnosis and get you treated accordingly. Take care.