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Question about TN

Posted , 7 users are following.

anna38464
anna38464

Hi,

I have written before about my story. I just wonderd if anyone knows if Trigeminal Neuralgia can travel to the other side of your mouth (jaw, teeth, gums,etc.)?

I have it on my "right" side and have had 3 teeth removed with the pain remaining. It all started from the removal of one molar.

I have pain now on an upper molar on my "left "side which the dentist

thinks the teeth  next to the one that hurts are cracked. I began worrying because I don't want him t remove more teeth if it is actually the nerve underneath..So, does anyone know if trigeminal nerve pain can cross over the mid line to the other side?

Thanks!

Anna

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

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  • akil41128
    akil41128 anna38464

    Posted

    Usually, only lower jaw is affected, facial pain could be mistaken for toothache, and is therefore possible
  • wanganui
    wanganui anna38464

    Posted

    Hi Anna.....you may have ATN where the pain can move around your face.I suggest you don't have any more teeth removed for your teeth are probably not the source of the pain.Are you on medication? Have you seen your GP? If not do this ASAP .....good luck!
    • anna38464
      anna38464 wanganui

      Posted

      Thank you. I will research ATN . I am not sure what it is but my neuroligist did diagnose mr with TN. Honestly, super painful...I will check it out. 
  • susan33651
    susan33651 anna38464

    Posted

    Hi,

    The 5th Cranial nerve has two main branches, each branch provides motor and sensory functions to the face and scalp. Each side of the face has a separate branch of the nerve which divides into three. One of these three divisions covers the upper part of the face (forehead, eye, side of the nose and upper gum/teeth), the next covers the cheek and lip(s), the lowest branch covers the front of the ear and lower jaw. Usually with TN one side of the face is affected, and usually only one of the three branches at any given time. Occasionally sufferers can get symptoms on the other side and again in any one of the three branches. It is rare for both sides to be affected at the same time.

    Atypical TN seems to affect any of the branches in a haphazard way and on either side of the face, usually the cause is trauma, pressure from sinus infections or something else, like post herpes neuralgia. Classical TN is usually due to compression of the nerve, at the point it divides, from an enlarged blood vessel.

    So, TN pain doesn't travel from one side of the face to the other in the sense you describe but the separate sides of the face can each be affected separately.

    Hope that helps.

    Best wishes.

    • anna38464
      anna38464 susan33651

      Posted

      HI Susan,

      This is super helpful information. I do have post herpetic neuralgia which developed into Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. However that is on the left side of my face(ear, neck scalp)...This pain on the right developed after I had a tooth pulled. I did tell lmy neurolgist that the pain felt so similar to my shingles (post herpetic pain).  Burning, knife-like sharp pains and a little tickle shock under my nose...jaw aches also. Yeah, my neurologist said it was the lower branch in my face).Perhaps I was more vulnerable to nerve pain, I am not sure(due to the shingles virus).

      This herpes zoster virus has been a nightmare for  me so it is hard to bekieve I now have TN.

      Yes, I am also shocked at how many dentists know nothing about TN. I do not think I can replace those 3 molars because the gums hurt so much. Does anyone have feedback on that? I am trying to figure out if the pain is a crack or TN traveling. It does hurt when I bite down at the dentist but so did the 3 teeth he pulled. I also have an awful novacaine, pressure like feeling in one tooth.

      Thanks so much for your input. I am currently on 600mg of tegretrol and lyrica. Take Care!

      Anna

    • susan33651
      susan33651 anna38464

      Posted

      You're welcome.

      I have pain from TN in all three of the branches, but mainly the ophthalmic branch. It is absolutely excruciating. Hopefully, now that it has been diagnosed (I initially thought I had been getting Cluster headaches until my nose and teeth/gum started to hurt and my cheek felt different/odd!) and I am getting the right treatment it will be less agonising.

      Best wishes.

  • donna86115
    donna86115 anna38464

    Posted

    There are many cases where dentists have removed teeth or in my case done tooth canals when in fact it is TN. Two comments: 1) I don't know know why in the heck dentists aren't educated about TN; and 2) A cracked tooth can be diagnosed by biting down hard on a small item and if you jump through the roof (figuratively) it's a cracked tooth. I agree with the others who suggest seeing a GP or neurologist first before any more teeth are pulled. 
    • anna38464
      anna38464 donna86115

      Posted

      HI Donna,

      I totally agree with you about dentists lack ofknowledge about this. It directly effects thier patient's future. Yes, I had crowns, then root canals and then pulling of teeth. The first tooth however was just a pull and I think that one did the damge to the nerve because verything started the day after that(a year ago). I did jump throught the roof(so to speak) but I did that with the other teeth he pulled also. The gums remain sooo.. painful and one tooth is novacaine like sensation. I do see a great neurologist but can not find a good dentist who bothers to learn about TN. 

      Thanks for your info...So your teeth calmled down after the root canals?

      Mine got worse...wierd, huh.

      Thanks Donna!

    • akil41128
      akil41128 anna38464

      Posted

      To dentists defense though, we go to them complaining of tooth ache, and most of the time we insist that it is a tooth problem...

      It is difficult for dentists to diagnose tn as it may present in so many different ways, and they may only see 1-2 cases per lifetime

    • donna86115
      donna86115 anna38464

      Posted

      Hello again! No, in fact mine got worse as well after the root canal at which point I finally went to my GP who correctly diagnosed the problem. Take care!
    • anna38464
      anna38464 akil41128

      Posted

      I am sorry but I disagree. A dentist goes to school and in his studies I would hope that he would be aware of trigeminal neuralgia. It occurs sometimes (often) due to an extraction of a tooth, especially back molars. A patient(like myself) may insist it is a tooth problem because the pain feels like it is coming from the tooth. It is not the patient's job, but rather the dentist's job to be aware of other causes of tooth pain(especially if it occurs directly after an extraction and there were no problems prior to that). Since trigeminal neuralgia can be life long, progressive and an extremely painful disease I feel it is the dentist's job to diagnose , especially after 3 extractions and have sent the patient to a neurololigist, perhaps after the first extraction. I always wish that my dentist had said,"This may be coming form the nerve and you may want to see a neurologist first". Then I could have started on the medicines for trigeminal neuralgia prior to haveing 3 of  my teeth extracted. 

      I feel this is such a serious disease and a painful one that a dentist should learn all there is to learn about it, even if he comes across only a few cases in his lifetime. 

      Anna

    • donna86115
      donna86115 anna38464

      Posted

      After my root canal and my visit to the GP, I have to say I agree with anna38464. Also, in my case, I was older than 50 and am female the prime group for TN, so I would hope a dentist would think of TN, especially when I would bite down hard on an item and I felt no pain. And I think TN is more common than we might think. 
    • joanna66862
      joanna66862 donna86115

      Posted

      Hi - I was diagnosed last summer with TN, initially I went to the dentist who said I needed a filling but nothing that should be causing the pain I was in, then to the doctor who diagnosed TN straightaway.  I was given Carbamapzepine but had an allergic reaction quite quickly although they relieved the pain and now on 1500mg gabapentin each day and painkillers.  I asked for the dosage to be upped by they would not as they are worried I will react to a higher dosage so referred me to a Maxillofacial Surgeon, I'm in the UK so, he is based a the Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham.  Maxillofacial Surgeons/Consultants are trained in Dentistry and Medicine and deal with any ailment that affects the jaw/teeth/face, my point is ask to be referred to one of these surgeons as they are trained/qualified in both areas and know about TN!  I have been referred by him for a brain scan, although he says my tooth may need to come out he cannot see anything else wrong with my jaw to be causing my pain.
    • anna38464
      anna38464 joanna66862

      Posted

      HI Joanna,

      Yes my neurologist just referred me to that type of surgeon at Mass General Hospital in Boston. I hope he has osme answers...Let me know how your appt. goes.(Has a brain mri done and I was diagnosed with TN).

      Thanks

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