Symptoms looks more like TN? Need feedback

[novrain96]

New to website not officially diagnosis with TN, however I am scheduled to see my Doctor on Monday, 8/27/2012 and with my Neurologist on 10/11/2012. I had an MRI and MRA on 8/23/2012, which both came back normal.  My CT scan was negative for bleeds of brain.  I experience headaches and head pressure for 7 days with no relief from taking 2 alleve in the morning and two alleve in the evening. My neck also felt somewhat stiff. On day 8 while at work still with the headache and head pressure I experience slight tingling and numbness on the left side of my face from the left temple radiating to my left mandible and part of my lips.  This lasted for a few seconds then I experience more head pressure with tingling sensation on the crown of my head. I felt dizzy with weakness and nausea. I went home early and saw a Doctor under my Doctor's Practice who gave me a prescription for flexirol.  I took the flexirol for 3 days and it did not help me at all, but only made me sleepy so I stop taking it.  My symptoms continued for another 8 days, which I was only taking four alleve per day. On 8/16/2012, while at work sitting in front of my computer typing I felt a sudden sensation of electrical current run up the left side of my face radiating to my temple and all over the top of my head.  Grabbing both of my hands and pressed them against my temple I got up from chair and went to see my manager, which her cubicle was three cubicles away.  I felt weak and I told my manager I have to go to the ER. In an instant, the pain on my left side of my face all the way to the top of my head felt as if being electrocuted.  The pain was so intense that I was holding my head on my lap rocking back and forth crying hysterical.  The intensity of the pain was so great that I passed out for a minute. My boss called the rescue who took me to the ER. I do not suffer from high blood pressure, but that day my pressure went to 143 over 108.  In the ER, they were treating me as if I had a migraine.  Even though I explained to them the tingling numbness sensation, I experience on my left side of my face on 8/8/2012 and again on 8/16/2012.  I had a migraine, 1 1/2 year ago, that was nothing like what I just experienced.  I never had a headache with electrical current on the left side of my face and head at all.  The ER treated me with two of the strongest migraine medication one being imedtrix and fiorinal which did not give me any relief. They also administered Benadryl, two doses of 600mg of Motrin, termodal, 2 doses of magnesium.  I told the Doctor I could still feel the pressure on my left side of my face and head.  I left the ER over medicated with no relief.  The pressure on my head and pain on my left side of my face would leave me with pain feeling as if I had a toothache to feeling pain in my left cheekbone or left eye socket.  The pain on my left cheekbone, bone around the left eye socket would come and go as well as the toothache pain on the upper left quadrant of my mouth.  This linger for 5 consecutive days when on 8/28/2012 - 8/29/2012 I was back to the ER again because by then the pain on my left temple, face and head pressure with on and off electrical stabbing pain was so bad that it left me weak and no form of emotion. Again, they treated me with the same cocktail of medications that they treated me on 8/16/2012.  They gave me a prescription for compazine 10mg and oxycondone.  I did not take the oxycondone.  I continued to take the 400mg of Motrin that they originally prescribed.  As of today, my left facial pain has decreased to some degree and so has my head pressure; however, I do not feel 100% better.  I am currently taking the Motrin because when I stop taking the Motrin I can still feel a slight pressure on my head and left side of my face.   If anyone has experience, TN with head pressure please let me know.

[novrain96]

My doctor confirmed yesterday, 8/27/2012 that I do have trigeminal neuralgia on the left side of my face.  She prescribed Tegretol 200mg to start.  I was supposed to start last night however I am a little scared of what kind of side effects I will experience from this medication.  I left a message for my doctor to call me back as I would like to see if I could cut the pill in half to take only 100mg to start.  I would appreciate if you or someone can share their experience taking this medication.   I know that it depends on the individual as to what kind of side effects you can experience with this medication, however knowing how they were able to get through this can help prepare me and ease my nerves. Thank you for replying and your support.

[nancy99n]

Sorry to hear everything you're dealing with, especially the fact that you haven't been able to find pain relief.

The electric shock feelings and the toothache feeling are felt with "classic" TN. However, I have not personally experienced the pressure feeling you describe.  Hopefully others in the community will share their experiences.

The fact that Motrin is working makes me concerned that this is not TN, since it's usually anti-seizure meds that control TN pain. Have they given you Tegretol?  Some docs use that as a diagnostic tool, if it controls the pain, you probably have TN. MRIs and MRAs do not always show the blood vessel compression on the TN nerve.

We are not doctors, just fellow pain sufferers. There is a Neurology community and an "Ask a Doctor" Neurology forum available. Just click on Forums and you'll see the entire list. Perhaps you could post your question on those forums as well, to get a broader group of people and experiences to respond to your question.  Because I know you need some answers.

I've been there, experiencing pain that just freezes you in your tracks and seeing multiple doctors that don't have answers. Keep looking, keep researching.  My sixth doctor finally gave me relief from the pain.

Let us know what happens with your doctor visits and if you find some relief. Your story may help someone else.

Take care,
Nancy