Facial sensation problems
Posted , 5 users are following.
i have had problems with my face for 3 months now. Cat scan and MRI showed nothing. So that is good but dry, dull, itching and burning sensations live on my face. They move from the front of my ears to my cheeks, on both sides of my jaws and around my lips. There is no pain and I would not describe the feeling as numb because I can feel the pricks of needles and touch equally on both sides of my face. Right now it is below my eyes on both sides. I am so confused and depressed due to the fact that I do not see any answers. More tests to come (MRI my neck and ultrasound) but I don't think they will show anything. Taking 900mg of gabapetin daily and there is no change. I scour the web looking for symptoms similar to mine but cannot find anything similar. It seems related to the trigeminal nerve but unsure what it is. Anyone have a similar story or advice please let me know. Good luck to everyone.
0 likes, 6 replies
patyrod Tugg
Posted
I still have bilateral facial numbess and mouth numbness with pains and difficulty chewing and speaking. None of the treatments has given me any improvement other than being able to chew a little better. My sense of taste has gotten worse.
I think that perhaps you might have trigeminal neuropathy. That encompasses both numbness and pain. The burning and pricks sound like the trigeminal pain part of it. I also had fasciculations for months. That is when it feels like you have a worm crawling under your skin. Do you ever have a sensation like that or pain tics that jerk your face?
Tugg patyrod
Posted
Sue1705 patyrod
Posted
Hi there. I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia back in October 2006. It took YEARS of scans, both CAT scans and MRIs, (plus contrast scans) before a Consultant finally decided I had a small lesion which was, they think suppressing the Trigeminal Nerve on its entrance through the meckel's cave. At this point they named it Atypical Trigeminal Neuropathy. I do not have the pain severely but have the facial parasthesia 24/7. If I do not take my Lyrica tablets 3 times a day (450mg in total) then it becomes unmanagemeable. I find the whole thing pretty depressing on occasions, I can tell you, as I'm sure we all do. Knowing that this will probably never go away is the worst part.
I do know most of my triggers though. Having migraines does not help and I find that this makes the ATN worse for a few days afterwards. Alcohol, chewing french bread or anything that requires lots of chewing, and being tired, all exacerbate the problem. The does of Lyrica that I am currently on is making me very tired and so I am in the process of returning to my GP to discuss any possible alternatives.
Stay positive if you can! I know that is not easy on some days. I too have a thyroid problem (underactive) and I make sure that I get my levels checked at every opportunity.
I agree that Tugg probably has Trigeminal Neuropathy and hope that she gets attention and medication if necessary.
Like all of us, I wish it would go away. 10 years down the line for me, it hasn't. Not sure I would ever be brave enough for the surgery though. Nice to speak with like minded people who know what I have to put up with on a daily basis. When I explain it to some people I can see that they have no clue as to what I'm talking about.
Love, Sue
Tnhurtsme Tugg
Posted
I have trigeminal neuropathy in my right side of my face from an ear infection it's pretty painful most of the time I'm on gabapentin an oxcarbazepine I take 1200 mg an 150 to 300 it's not terrible I'm able to manage but I'm thinking of trying cymbalta soon my pain is crushing stabing tingling burning in my forehead and cheek the teeth pain is the worst though
Sue1705 Tugg
Posted
Tugg
Part of my symptoms are as you have described. I can relate to the burning sensations. I have even gone to the mirror, convinced that my face would be bright red and it wasn't! The sensations I have in my face are only on my left hand side, but I get them under my eye, all over my left cheek, the side of my nose and the corner of my mouth. It is horrible. I do have the numbness though - totally and can't feel the pin prick at all on my cheek. I have trouble chewing, because I can't feel the food on the inside of my mouth and the most embarrassing thing about eating is that I don't know if I have any food on my face when I'm eating stuff! I always make a point of having my husband sit opposite me when we're out for a meal, so that he can give me the signal that it has happened!
My eventual diagnosis has been that I have inflammation and a very small lesion on the entrance to the meckel's cave. This is the tiny hole that the trigeminal nerve passes through near the base of the skull. Whilst I do not have the pain, as such, I do get these awful "electric shock type" jolts which make me jump out of my skin sometimes. I am on Lyrica 150mg x 3 daily. It only takes the edge off.
Stay positive if you can and talk to someone who understands.
Love and encouragement to you. Sue xx
arlene32783 Tugg
Posted
I'm not sure what you have but it does not sound like TN. TN is extremely painful and you said your condition is not painful. Thank God you do not have TN. If gabapentin is not working then stop taking it. All of those anti seizure, anti depression drugs are nasty.