Trigeminal Neuralgia

[George 1978]

I have reached 4,000 posts and so I thought that I would mark this milestone by letting you know about something that has recently happened to me - perhaps you might have even experienced it yourself and might understand?

Over the past few weeks I have experienced pain on the right side of my face - it comes and goes but it does feel painful when it happens - I have been under stress due to the COVID situation and also problems with neighbours that has left me stressed, although I am not sure whether there is a direct connection. Anyway, I Googled three magic four-letter words of "PAIN", "SIDE" and "FACE", and on the first page, at least five of them, including an NHS page and a Medical Dictionary website suggested that it could be Trigeminal Neuralgia - I went on eBay and got a couple of medical dictionaries myself to get more details, as well as going on YouTube and typing it in. It can be a piercing pain when it happens and it goes - I think of it as a bit like a thunderstorm of pain if you know what I mean.

I did read that it was more in common in women who are over 50, but it did make me wondering whether I have the same because I am male and under 50. Sometimes it does hurt when swallowing something cold or feeling cold air, and so it could be the same signs. I thought it was my teeth at first but I don't think it is now. It has affected the right-side of my face, and I am wondering whether there is a link due to being right-handed? Probably just a coincidence. As I am writing this, I am alright and there isn't any pain, but it does come and goes, and sometimes I hardly get any sleep at night it until tiredness overrules it. GPs have enough on their plate because of this virus still going around, and with a lot of things in life, I put a brave face on and try and grin and bear it. I wrote to the TNA (the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association) a couple of weeks ago, describing the pain and I hope to hear from them soon.

I know that none of you are doctors or healthcare professionals, but I was wondering that if one can remember the days of the 1970s and 1980s, then one would be of a certain age where things like this could happen. Have any of yourselves experienced this on the side of their face, and if so, did you get treatment for it? I have not been diagnosed as I have not told anyone, but the signs feel as if they are there - I just hope that they don't get worse as I get older, that's what I say.

I think that talking about this problem is worth it for my 4,000th post on this forum.

[beccabear67]

I would see a doctor about it if at all possible. There might be a simple treatment or ways to prevent it from worsening. I have pain from a jaw condition that runs in the family connected to arthritis. Sometimes the pain radiates outward to other areas starting with the neck. There's nothing really that can be done about it and it has worsened very gradually over the years.

As for sleep, if it becomes a problem, there are some mild aides for that, and there's also warmed milk. I rely on a quarter piece of a dramamine pill, maybe a half if I'm a bit desperate, but often I just tell myself I guess my body doesn't need sleep. For years I had a noise machine that had rain and waves and sounds like that to choose from, it helped me sleep different places when I was travelling. Eventually it wore out though. In warm weather I will put a fan on and it does the same thing.

Best thoughts for you George!

[tex]

My mother got TN in 2015...very painful condition, she had an injection in her face which gave immediate relief but needs to be done every so often to keep the pain at bay. So far she has had three injections in a six year period...good luck with that George.

[HG]

Definitely see a doctor, Google isn't a doctor