Question:
<snip P. S. Don’t let Jen or anyone pull out any of your teeth while I am gone, cuz I don’t think it will help. It didn’t help my
Mum. I know that. I should have put a smily face by it. However, I have had doctors suggest that a certain tooth/teeth near the location of the pain might be bad, and need to be pulled. My Mum got the same advice. She had a perfectly good tooth removed, and it didn’t change the pain one bit. So, when I hear of something like this neuralgia, I warn them. It is good to have them checked tho. I had this done by and excellent oral surgeon. My teeth passed with flying colors (red, white, and blue)! … Tasha … ~8) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -TASHA!!! I would NEVER pull out anyone’s teeth, or even suggest it. When I had my braces put on for TMJ, they did not pull out any teeth….and, I even said "it only help for awhile". In other words…it was probably a waste of time and money. A night time "bite splint" would have been a better option for the TMJ. Anyway, what Rachel describes sounds more like something that is related to either her sinues or the trigeminal nerve…..hence, my rec that she see a neuroligist and posibbly an ENT. Not Pulling ANYONE’S teeth!<G Jen
Response:
Hi Randy! I’m back … Tasha with the chronic pain!
Tasha, Thanks for your reply. I know that ths discomfort I have is atypical facial neuralgia, and I also know that the neurologists probably hate dealing with people with this problem. There is little that they can do for it. I had a bout of it last year, only in a different branch of the trigeminal nerve. It was more sporadic than what I’m dealing with this year. The neurologist, after giving me the Tegretol which did nothing, was only too happy to have me speak to a therapist and get an antidepressant. He had no answers for me except to tell me that the trigeminal nerve was inflamed, which I knew before seeing him. This past six months has been very stressful for me and I know that the stress is making this problem worse, if not creating the entire situation. My son is a high school senior getting ready to go off to college. My father passed away two months ago after a lengthy illness. I’m hoping that once I can come to terms with all these things, the pain will recede. That is what happened with my previous bout with nerve problem. It was also during a period of intense emotional stress and when the stress lifted, the problem faded away. I also believe that hormones do have something to do with this. I am a female and in my late forties. Some days, the discomfort from the nerve is almost non-existent and other days, it seems to take over my thoughts entirely. I thank you for all your information and hope that I can continue to deal with all of this until I get some relief. Unfortunately, I don’t believe that the neurologists can provide much help. If you think that I am wrong about this, please let me know. Thanks again.
Response:
<snip P. S. Don’t let Jen or anyone pull out any of your teeth while I am gone, cuz I don’t think it will help. It didn’t help my Mum.
TASHA!!! I would NEVER pull out anyone’s teeth, or even suggest it. When I had my braces put on for TMJ, they did not pull out any teeth….and, I even said "it only help for awhile". In other words…it was probably a waste of time and money. A night time "bite splint" would have been a better option for the TMJ. Anyway, what Rachel describes sounds more like something that is related to either her sinues or the trigeminal nerve…..hence, my rec that she see a neuroligist and posibbly an ENT. Not Pulling ANYONE’S teeth!<G Jen
Response:
Hi Randy! I’m back … Tasha with the chronic pain!
Do any of you have experience with chronic pain caused by anxiety? Since no physician can find a cause for my facial nerve pain, it seems to be brought on by anxiety.
I believe the nerve you are talking about is the trigeminal nerve. If, at any point in this dissertation, you disagree, please let me know. I just want you to know that YOU are NOT ALONE! I do not wholly believe it is brought on by anxiety … at least in me. I have had this since I was 19. I have periodic bouts of it. I have been to neurologist after neurologist and finally reached the point of absolute frustration. No, they do not know what it is. If I were "such and such" they would blame "such and such." Now, they just act bored, so I don’t go anymore. Although if we had a really good neurologist come into our area, I might try again. But, I now have my own hypotheses on the thing. I wake up in the morning pain-free, but waiting for the pain to begin. I am taking Klonopin(.5mg twice a day) and Serzone(150 mg. at bedtime), but I am so depressed linging with this pain. It is hardly ever in the same spot in my face. It moves around the eye, under the eye, into
my cheek etc. Do you have it on only one side, or both. I usually have it on the right side, but often the left and before I was put on the medication I am now on, I sometimes had it on both at the same time! By the way, my Mum had it when she was in her thirties, but she only has had twinges since. I am trying relaxation exercises, since they seem to give me
temporary relief. Sometimes something cold against it helps me. A cool pen or pencil or anything on the spot that hurts worst. The more I obsess about the pain the worse it gets, and the fact tht the relaxation seems to provide some relief makes me feel like it might very well be stress induced. Anyone have any ideas? I’m getting more depressed by the day!
Yep, I have a lot of ideas for you. First, I presume you have anxiety or panic disorder or depression, or you would not be posting here, right? Oh, I have so much to tell you that may or may not help, but anyway, here goes my story. As I said, it began at 19. I still have it and I am a grandma. My Mum had it in her thirties only. My deduction was that even if doctors didn’t know what it was, at least I knew someone else who had it. Therefore, I figured there must be a biological component. First I thought it could be facial structure, as mine is shaped much like hers. Now I relate it to these "wonderful" disorders that we have. By the way, the doctors call mine an "Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia." Atypical cuz they don’t know what it is. Trigeminal cuz it affects that large nerve and it’s branches, hence around the eye. (That’s a doozie, isn’t it?) Neuralgia cuz it’s a pain in the nerve. Big deal … no real name! I have tried many medications for it. Let’s see, there was Fiorinol which gave me such a wicked buzz that I could only take it at night. Then good old codeine, then Dilantin. The Dilantin. broke up the pain making it not so bad. What I am trying to say is, the pain no longer localized right around my temple area, but spread out more and was less intense. At that time, when the pain got so bad that I couldn’t stand it, I took Thorazine. The Thorazine amazingly stopped it, and I felt no strange effects from it, but could carry on as usual. But, what with menstral cramps and all, I could still get the codeine if I needed it. That last paragraph takes us up to 1976 when my GP put me on amitriptyline, brand name Elavil. He had heard that it worked well in chronic pain of the spasmodic type. It did. It reduced the intensity greatly. Soon, I was off to my neurologist for an update. He agreed with the GP and I began taking 50 mg. of amitriptyline at night when it was really bad. He even suggested at another visit that I take another 25 mg. at night when it became intensely bad. Somewhere back in there, between the two last paragraphs I began having panic attacks, but I did not understand what they were. I hid them when at all possible. I was really scared and didn’t tell a soul. I didn’t really think I was going crazy, or if I was, I wasn’t going to let anyone know until I was totally unable to hide it. It was a good thing that I did shut my mouth because those were the days when panic disorder was not at all understood. Well, the next time I went back to the neurologist’s re: the neuralgia, he told me that I should take the amitriptyline EVERY night … and again add 25 mg. more during bad times. Well, by then, I was pretty well over the side effects except the joy of finally being able to go to sleep at night, so I began the amitrip. EVERY night ( but only the 50 mg.) with some added Serax, and later Tranxene for my "dizziness." I still wasn’t telling. From that time on the panic attacks were not as bad, and I could keep my secret under wraps. I did start avoiding certain situations, however. But, thank goodness, the attacks while driving just about disappeared because those were really bad! I’d probably be dead by now from an accident driving when one hit! Now, I did not know that I had panic disorder until last April. My oldest daughter had started with it, at about the same age I did. Then I found out that I wasn’t crazy and finally "fessed up" to my doctor! Since my amitriptyline and Tranxene were working well for me, he just upped me slowly to 100 mg. of amitiriptyline and told me to take the Tranxene before I go into a situation that I feel will be a problem. So, I take 3 to 4 Tranxene (3.75 mg.) a day if I need them. I usually need the three. Since being on this group, my daughter started me here in May, I have found at least four other people, besides you, who have been diagnosed with an atypical trigeminal neuralgia. There have been a few others that I suspected had the same, but it was not really quite the same. Hence, my hypothesis has become one that links GAD and/or PD with this type of neuralgia. My daughter with PD has also had some of this. She gets the shooting pains into the ear. Have you experienced these? They are lots of fun! Well, my advice department is: 1. Find yourself a good doctor, or if you have one tell him that you have found a kindred soul. 2. Ask for a medication that will work for the chronic pain AND the anxiety, depression of PD or whatever it is you have. The drugs that I take are older drugs, but I am used to the side effects of the amitrip. so I am getting along very well. The increase in the amitrip has helped the facial neuralgia too. When I get it, it doesn’t last as long. I also don’t seem to be getting it as much as I used to. One other thing, I don’t know whether you are a male Randy or a female Randy, but my female hormones do affect the frequency and/or intensity of the neuralgia. I am on hormone replacement therapy. I am better when the estrogen level is high. Whew! … But you did ask! I hope it helps! … Tasha … ~8) Randy Rachlin e-mail
Response:
Hi Rachel, I’ll get back to you in a few hours, I have a few things I have to do first, and I really WANT to talk this over with you. It is the story of my life, and I do believe it is related to PD and GAD. Right now it is just behind my temple area on my right side and the bump of swelling is rising on the roof of my mouth and I just took a very large naprosin to try to calm it. Actually, because of it, I want to take a nap, before I get back to you. … Tasha … ~8) P. S. Don’t let Jen or anyone pull out any of your teeth while I am gone, cuz I don’t think it will help. It didn’t help my Mum. Do any of you have experience with chronic pain caused by
anxiety? Since no physician can find a cause for my facial nerve pain, it seems to be brought on by anxiety. I wake up in the morning pain-free, but waiting for the pain to begin. I am taking Klonopin(.5mg twice a day) and Serzone(150 mg. at bedtime), but I am so depressed linging with this pain. It is hardly ever in the same spot in my face. It moves around the eye, under the eye, into my cheek etc. I am trying relaxation exercises, since they seem to give me temporary relief. The more I obsess about the pain the worse it gets, and the fact tht the relaxation seems to provide some relief makes me feel like it might very well be stress induced. Anyone have any ideas? I’m getting more
depressed by the day! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hi Randy, I had really bad facial pain a number of years (1986) back when I was in the grips of a pretty bad spell of PD. I was going through a rough time with an abusive husband. Mine got so bad I had to end up going on disability from work. The only thing I can tell you is that I got on meds…Klonopin and Xanax. I left my husband and quit my job and married a wonderful guy. Basically, I changed my life completely around. The pain disappeared. I still have some problems with TMJ from time to time, but that’s another story. Have you been checked by a neurologist and a dentist who specializes in jaw and facial pain?????? If not, it may be a good idea to do so. (I eneded up in braces for close to two years when I was 26 to "cure" the TMJ…it didn’t last, and I get pain still <sigh) Anyway, hope this helps. Jen
Response:
says… This may be off base, but I get some facial pain from my sinusitis (when the pressure builds up — I even got a black eye once from it). And my sinus problems are caused (or at least aggravated by my GAD). I do take decongestants for this. However, decongestants aggravate my GAD. Anyway, it is just an idea. You might check out Dr. Shipko’s old ASAP posts for what he has shared with us about anxiety disorders causing sinus problems. take care, Pegi
I’ve found that taking 15,000 units a day of vitamin A prevents almost all of my sinus infections and headaches. If you work or live under florescent lights you may need even more. If I feel something coming on, then I take 10,000 to 20,000 units more. Because Vitamin A is not water soluble, it is possible to overdose on it so proceed with caution. But it is probably a lot safer than most cold medicines in combination with anxiety or depression meds. YMMV. Mary
Response:
Do any of you have experience with chronic pain caused by anxiety? Since no physician can find a cause for my facial nerve pain, it seems to be brought on by anxiety. I wake up in the morning pain-free, but waiting for the pain to begin. I am taking Klonopin(.5mg twice a day) and Serzone(150 mg. at bedtime), but I am so depressed linging with this pain. It is hardly ever in the same spot in my face. It moves around the eye, under the eye, into my cheek etc. I am trying relaxation exercises, since they seem to give me temporary relief. The more I obsess about the pain the worse it gets, and the fact tht the relaxation seems to provide some relief makes me feel like it might very well be stress induced. Anyone have any ideas? I’m getting more depressed by the day!
Hi Randy, This may be off base, but I get some facial pain from my sinusitis (when the pressure builds up — I even got a black eye once from it). And my sinus problems are caused (or at least aggravated by my GAD). I do take decongestants for this. However, decongestants aggravate my GAD. Anyway, it is just an idea. You might check out Dr. Shipko’s old ASAP posts for what he has shared with us about anxiety disorders causing sinus problems. take care, Pegi
Response:
Do any of you have experience with chronic pain caused by anxiety? Since no physician can find a cause for my facial nerve pain, it seems to be brought on by anxiety. I wake up in the morning pain-free, but waiting for the pain to begin. I am taking Klonopin(.5mg twice a day) and Serzone(150 mg. at bedtime), but I am so depressed linging with this pain. It is hardly ever in the same spot in my face. It moves around the eye, under the eye, into my cheek etc. I am trying relaxation exercises, since they seem to give me temporary relief. The more I obsess about the pain the worse it gets, and the fact tht the relaxation seems to provide some relief makes me feel like it might very well be stress induced. Anyone have any ideas? I’m getting more depressed by the day!
Hi Randy, I had really bad facial pain a number of years (1986) back when I was in the grips of a pretty bad spell of PD. I was going through a rough time with an abusive husband. Mine got so bad I had to end up going on disability from work. The only thing I can tell you is that I got on meds…Klonopin and Xanax. I left my husband and quit my job and married a wonderful guy. Basically, I changed my life completely around. The pain disappeared. I still have some problems with TMJ from time to time, but that’s another story. Have you been checked by a neurologist and a dentist who specializes in jaw and facial pain?????? If not, it may be a good idea to do so. (I eneded up in braces for close to two years when I was 26 to "cure" the TMJ…it didn’t last, and I get pain still <sigh) Anyway, hope this helps. Jen
Response:
Do any of you have experience with chronic pain caused by anxiety? Since no physician can find a cause for my facial nerve pain, it seems to be brought on by anxiety. I wake up in the morning pain-free, but waiting for the pain to begin. I am taking Klonopin(.5mg twice a day) and Serzone(150 mg. at bedtime), but I am so depressed linging with this pain. It is hardly ever in the same spot in my face. It moves around the eye, under the eye, into my cheek etc. I am trying relaxation exercises, since they seem to give me temporary relief. The more I obsess about the pain the worse it gets, and the fact tht the relaxation seems to provide some relief makes me feel like it might very well be stress induced. Anyone have any ideas? I’m getting more depressed by the day!
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