Tilting towards TN before my CT Scan

I think it is sinus.  Typical TN is like having electrical shots of extreme pain that hit for various amounts of time and then pass.  ATypical TN is pretty constant boring pain neither of this sounds like what you have.  

Hi richardvilla I was diagnosed with TN end of January and the pain was that intense I was crawling on the floor and over chairs just to get away from myself and if someone had given me a knife I wld have hurt myself. The other way I try and describe it is having a major operation without any anaesthetic and then place all that pain in your temple area. It was defiantly like someone was pushing a big knife deep in and out of my temple every 10_15 seconds relentlessly. I hope that has given you some in site to the pain scale of TN hun.

Thanks k you both for this. It's not terrible pain but it's irritating almost like a branch of a stick is sticking out the side of my face (in front of the ear up to the temple ) and at night when lying the side of the face and gums. I actually described it like a dentist pulling my tooth out without numbing me. Probably is more sinus. Hoping so . Sorry for yous the pain it causes.

Hi,

TN pain is triggered by pressure on the nerve, usually at the point it branches out, however, it would be logical to assume that pressure anywhere on any nerve would cause it to send pain signals to the brain, ergo: sinus issues/abscess/odd anatomy could very well be causing compression over the Maxilliary branch of the Trigeminal nerve and be causing pain.

As to the nature of the pain - it is simply horrendous! Many doctors describe it as one of the worst pains ever, as, I'm sure, sufferers do too! In my experience it is like a super hot knife being stabbed into the eye or scalp, or anywhere else it decides to! I seem to get it on both sides of my head/face at any given time and in all three branches, but to a great deal lesser extent on the right (yay!). As well as the stabbing pain I get an electric shock like sensation to accompany the stabbing, a spikey footed spider sensation over my left cheek and sometimes a 'thumped in the jaw' like pain too. The pain in my left eye has been the worst, it is relentless with a background throb in between the stabs when it is at its worst. It often goes on in a cyclic manner for up to 7 days before it abates. Most pain medication does not touch it, I even self-medicated with Morphine (from my Husband's supply for his back) and it was totally ineffective. This is one of the indicators for the pain being due to TN.

Medication specifically designed to counter Neuropathic pain helps and in my case I now take Amitriptyline 50mg every day with the option of an additional 20mg in the day split into two doses if it flares up. I was already on this for another problem. Many people are prescribed Carbamazepine which is used for Epilepsy but has proven to be very effective in stopping attacks.Unfortunately TN is known to get worse and more frequent over time often irrespective of type or dose of medications. 

If your pain responds to such medications then it most likely is TN regardless of the cause. Most nerve damage is permanent if the causative factor goes on for too long, in some cases compression can be relieved with surgical interventions and the pain ceases, but these are fraught with potential complications and are reserved for those with little or no improvement from medications.

Hopefully, the CT scan will identify the problem or at least rule out sinus problems as the cause. An MRI of the head would be better as any compression on the nerve where it branches out will be evident.

Best wishes.

I think what the worry is more is the actual cause of it. I've heard tumour and multiple sclerosis is the worst that can cause it although exceptionally rare ?

TN electricity attacks are so painful you are rooted to the floor,can't call out to your family in the next room and you pray that it will be over soon because it seems to take forever but it's really only a few seconds. The other pains are when you accidentally touch your face or when you are washing your hair the pain is so intense but at least you can stop it.I. Think you will know if you have TN or not.