Increasing Neuralgia

[Beakaldo]

I developed headaches in November 2007.  I was successfully treated with Amytryptilline 25mg.  I have come off the medication for personal reasons and am increasing with new neuralgia symptons each day.  I have occipital symptoms, with sharp head pain all over my head and behind the eyes, Light Sensitivity and severe chronic headaches.  I have just started to get sharp facial pain in the jaw and sharp pain shooting down my arms and legs.  I also....and I am not imagining this, am becoming increasingly tired during the day.  I feel like I have been up all night after just six to eight hours.  Im just trying to get on with my life and be the person I was this time last year but these symptoms are becoming more and more difficult to ignore.  My nerologist did no investigation and just said im prone to headaches.  Is this a sufficient response from the neurologist?  Can I afford to just ignore this and hope it goes away?

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

Your pain symptoms, by the way you described them, may indeed come from primary nerve problems and the withdrawal of the drug may have caused the neuropathy to bounce back.  Also contributing to these pains is your inability to sleep properly.  This is called "Non-restorative-sleep" which is brought about by anxiety or stress.  The drug amytryptilline may address this non-restorative-sleep condition and should have you well rested and wake up with more energy.  This drug may be taken 1-2 hours before you sleep but I suggest you inform your neurologist first about this.  I hope you can be rid of all this symptoms soon.  Regards and God bless.

[Dr_shreekant]

I believe your condition could be trigeminal neuralgia. However ask your neurologist to rule out certain common conditions that mimic neuralgia like an impacted tooth or problems with your vision (these may present with an insidious onset similar to your symptoms). If your symptoms are abated by amitriptyline, i think you can continue the medication under medical supervision.