Newly Diagnosed

[lindaw82]

Hi all! I was diagnosed with TN last Thursday by my MD. I went in thinking I had shingles, the left side of my face, my cheek and chin felt tingly and extremely sensitive. I couldn't stand to touch it. I also felt like like I had blisters along my bottom gums on the same side. Shooting pains in my ear and a really bad headache above my left eye. The doctor perscribed Gabipentin 300 mg 3 times a day and printed out literature. I wasn't totally convinced this is what I have so I did some research and I'm still not 100% convinced. By Thursday evening the hyper sensitivity had spread to my temple, my ear and my neck. Friday morning I get up and my neck feels like I had been scalded. After a couple of a days the face sensations got better but my neck, jawline and gums worse. There are no blisters on my gums by the way. Now, after 6 days the burning feeling in my neck subsides for a while but comes back. I've noticed the cold wind makes it hurt worse. It kills me to brush my teeth and taking a shower is painful, sometimes it feels like it's in my hairline too. Right now my neck and jawline are burning and my ear hurts. I have to keep my hair pulled back on that so it won't touch my neck, I don't want anything touching it.

In all the research I've done, I haven't seen much about people experiencing the neck pain, that's why I'm not convinced that I have TN. Anyone else have the burning neck feeling?

Thanks for any help!

[lindaw82]

Thanks for the response! I went to a Neurologist yesterday and he doesn't think it's TN because it is on my neck and the strange tingling and burning are moving to my upper back and chest all on the same side. He thinks it could be Shingles except that I haven't broken out and it's spreading. He's ordered a MRI and Cspine and blood work. I guess I'll wait and see now.

[nancy99n]

No I did not have neck pain. But the other symptoms may be why your doctor thinks it's TN.  
Is this doctor a neurologist or a facial pain doc?
You may want to get a second opinion. Especially if the meds are not helping.
Unfortunately, shingles can cause a type of TN.  
Please let us know what happens.  Your story may help someone else