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I was diagnosed with the above today ... I've been having piercing, icepick type pain in and around my eye area. Under my eye and my top lip are numb ... this stinks. Anyone else ever get this crappy condition. I am taking carbamezepine and it's making me loopy.
Wow, I'm sorry to hear that. I have a family member with TN and it is a miserable condition, although she has adjusted to the carbamezepine and the side effects. I have heard the capsacin cream can help with the pain but you have to use it a few times before the effects kick in.
There are things which might help. Chiropractic or acupuncture might. But in the long-run you are probably going to have to look at the surgical options. There are several procedures available each with its own risks and benefits. The success rate of the surgery also goes down after a certain period of time. I think it might be 5 years.
I would find a specialist in your area to go to, if possible. You want to make sure the diagnosis is correct and see if the doctor can see anything helpful on an MRI. If it is really TN then it is not likely to just go away.
I'm getting an MRI on Monday night. I also have migraines and vertigo, not a lot, but still ... at least with TN, it's not debilitating like the migraines and vertigo, it's just bloody annoying
I have a spot under my nose that feel like a dried booger and tingling in and around my eye socket today ... I feel like a pin cushion .... ugh!
From what I have heard and observed, if you are calling it "annoying" then it probably is not TN. It might be another type of facial pain or neuralgia. Hopefully you have a good neurologist.
There is a book called "Striking Back" that you might insightful.
Migraines and vertigo can be controlled much easier than TN. TN is not just annoying, it can be debilitating for life. I have a mild form of TN compared to others. My ice pick pain can be anywhere on my head, and it comes and goes. I have gone a few years without pain and them wham, it's back for a year or so, and then gone again. But when those pains strike, it is very painful and scary.
Hold the phones ... I have SHINGLES!! This morning, I noticed the blisterlike rash and went to my doc immediately ... now I'm on tons of pills and since it's on my face, I had to see an opthamologist to make sure it doesn't go into my eye ... joy joy joy for me. At least one of the meds is prednisone, so I'll feel peppy! Love those steroids. I'm also on, VALTREX ... just keep it on the DL ok?
I'm still going in for my MRI on Monday. I bet I'll look grrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeat!!! Doc said it's going to get a lot worse and suggested that I may not want to venture out too much. Lovely.
Oh well, at least it's not TN ... but then again, I'm not looking forward to this rash that is about to pop.
I was diagnosed with the above today ... I've been having piercing, icepick type pain in and around my eye area. Under my eye and my top lip are numb ... this stinks. Anyone else ever get this crappy condition. I am taking carbamezepine and it's making me loopy.
Argh!!!
I would not rule this out until you get that MRI. Did the doctor say the shingles would cause that eye socket pain?
Just in case.. my neighbor has TN, he gets an injection every few years. It seems to work for him. My ex MIL had the surgery, it kept coming back.
I would try the acupuncture for the migrains. What do you have to lose?
I've thought about accupuncture. We had a Chinese Medicine practitioner in my town. I also thought about getting a monthly head, neck and shoulder workover by a massage therapist. I think with the migraines, it's better to treat them before they get here right? The shingles are getting worse. I can actually feel when a new blister pops out. It's gross. I saw an opthamolagist yesterday and it's not in my eye. I think we caught it soon enough and I started my meds within hours of the breakout. Will keep you all posted.
I am so glad that it is "just" shingles, domergurl. If I had to choose between the lesser of the two evils, I would have to go with shingles.
You are having the pain because shingles is actually an inflammation of the nerves in the area affected. It usually occurs in the trunk of one's body, but can find a good hiding spot anyplace! It is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox and herpes, and many of us know how uncomfortable either of those conditions can be.
I had tic doloreaux, another name for Trigeminal Neuralgia can come on suddenly and then lie dormant for months or even years. I had it very badly in my 20's after a lupus flare-up. Although the pain in my right cheek would only last 20 - 30 seconds, it was so intense that it would put me on the floor screaming. I am on anticonvulsant meds that really keep it well controlled.
When I have a flare-up with it, cold in particular will set it off. Opening the freezer or stepping outside on a cool windy day will set off a terrible bout of pain.
I would go ahead and have the MRI also, domergurl. Your migraines situation might be diagnosed and you may get that under control, as well. Unfortunately, with the shingles, you can have a secondary reoccurance years from now (just like a cold sore), or the nasty virus may stay dormant for life. I hope you are soon well and cute as a button again.
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