Does nerve pain get worse without treatment? - Page 2

tryingtofeelgood · 01-26-2004, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle W

Thanks for responding Ann123 to my post. I am sorry you are experiencing pain from dental surgery. I wondered what kind of procedure you had done? I underwent bilateral arthroplasty for TMJD. I clench/grind my teeth at night. I had stretched out the ligament attached to the articular disc. I had to have the ligament cut and pinned in place. An incision was made right in the front crease of my ear. It is visible to me, because I know there was no crease in that area but invisible to others. Sorry to go on about my ordeal. I have been thinking about trying Lexypro. My neurologist offered to take it. I was afraid of the serotonin adrenalin affect. I thought maybe it might make me grind my teeth at night. It is a listed side effect. Although, side effects are suppose to be rare with this medication. It is suppose to be one of cleanest medications now. Please do keep me posted.

Thanks for your input!
Sincerely,
Michelle

Hi Michelle, Ann and Laura,

I too suffer from facial neuropathy. Mine started as a porcelain veneer on my front tooth, followed by severe pain, 2 root canals, an apicoectomy, an extraction, finally diagnosed with osteomyelitis (a jawbone and marrow infection), was on IV abx for 11 weeks with 2 debridements (scraping of bone and removing dead tissue/bone) went through Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. I have been done with this for about 8 months. Except the HBO ended 2 months ago. It has been "deduced" that I am suffering with neuropathy due to the infection, trauma and surgeries. I thank g-d I beat the infection, it never spread or became systemic, causing horrible illnesses and possible death. So, with that said, I am lucky. BUT, I have pain every day. Neurologists do tell me that this takes a long time to heal that sometimes there is damage to the nerves and to the sheath (myelin - that is a protective covering on the nerve) - and yes, it grows so slowly, but it does grow. I think that facial pain is maddening. I meditate, am starting yoga, get massages since pain refers to my neck, head and shoulders. I am also giving a LOT of consideration to the glutine removal from my diet. I don't know much about nerve blocks, and will research more. I am on Lexapro and Ativan and will be adding Neurontin to help get rid of this pain. Sometimes our brains become "wired" an actual chemical change in the brain, that sends pain signals. I think that it is NOT in the mind, however, I think the mind CAN do miraculous things, especially when the body is in top form. I hope to continue our correspondence. All of you are very special people,

Trying...

Michelle W · 01-26-2004, 11:36 AM

Dear Trying,

Thanks so much for sharing your story. I have been wondering if anyone else was suffering from anything similar. Unfortunately the answer is yes. I am so sorry you have been through some much. I hope things continue to get much better for you. The Neurontin has helped a lot with my pain, but I had to add another medication called Keppra. It seems many people are on Lexapro with nerve pain. It must work well. It is something to consider.

I have been wanting to go back to work part-time and wondered if any of you gals are able to work?

Thanks,
Michelle

Ann123 · 01-26-2004, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle W

Thanks for responding Ann123 to my post. I am sorry you are experiencing pain from dental surgery. I wondered what kind of procedure you had done? I underwent bilateral arthroplasty for TMJD. I clench/grind my teeth at night. I had stretched out the ligament attached to the articular disc. I had to have the ligament cut and pinned in place. An incision was made right in the front crease of my ear. It is visible to me, because I know there was no crease in that area but invisible to others. Sorry to go on about my ordeal. I have been thinking about trying Lexypro. My neurologist offered to take it. I was afraid of the serotonin adrenalin affect. I thought maybe it might make me grind my teeth at night. It is a listed side effect. Although, side effects are suppose to be rare with this medication. It is suppose to be one of cleanest medications now. Please do keep me posted.

Thanks for your input!
Sincerely,
Michelle

Hi Michelle, I had root canal, then extraction. The doctor shot the anesthetic directly into my nerve -not a good thing. I do clench/grind at night - which started after the procedures. I have tried a lower TMJ splint for 3 months - since my pain is largely in my lower teeth that did not feel good and I gave up on that. I now wear an upper night guard at night. I have read that TMJD and trigeminal nerve pain are often co-existing conditions. The trigeminal neuralgia came first for me -one of responses to it was to begin clenching. I now also have a popping jaw and neck/shoulder pain. My TMJD is believed to be muscular and I haven't had much luck with treating that. My neurologists recognizes that I have it and said on my next visit he was hoping to be able to prescribe massage therapy - I asked why he was waiting and he said it wouldn't do me any good yet until the muscles loosened up some more. sounded odd to me but he's the doc. Are you doing anything to treat the TMJD anymore?

I asked when I started the Lorazapam (Ativan) at night a couple of months ago if it would increase the clenching-he said no that it might even help. It puts me into such a deep sleep I have no idea if I am clenching now. I don't wake up any sorer though. I am also concerned about that listed as a side effect of the Lexapro which I just started in the mornings 4 days ago. But I am a clencher anyway and I am hoping that if these drugs help relieve pain/tension/anxiety maybe it will help with the clenching. So far, beating the clenching has proven to be a tough task. Do you clench/grind now? So far I have tolerated the Lexapro fine- was very drowsy the first day and a little digestive issues but hoping that will pass. I think I actually feel a little better already. How is the Neurontin working for you? I have been on it about 6 months - and am very confused about whether it works. It has never relieved the pain entirely. And I still get bad flare-ups. The doctor just keeps upping the doses saying my pain cycles are peaking (usually before my periods) and he needs to get it high enough to reach the peaks. I hate all these drugs and it took me a long time to give in and start taking them. I worry about addiction, side effects, etc. However, I also worry about what untreated unrelenting chronic pain will do to me. Sorry this got so long. Good luck to you with your treatment - I hope you find the proper treatment soon -it sounds like you have been through a lot and I sympathize. I will keep you posted on how the Lexapro works for me, take care.

Ann123 · 01-26-2004, 12:54 PM

[QUOTE=tryingtofeelgood]Hi Michelle, Ann and Laura,

Hi Trying, yes I have read your story on the dental board. I am so sorry that you have been through so much. I was hoping all the ostemylitis treatments would be the end or your ordeal.

I agree it is not in my mind - I had rarely even been sick in my life before this began and had no stress/anxiety issues. Thankfully my doctors have not been the type that suggest it is "all in my head". But the theory is that chronic pain can affect our chemical make-up - putting us in a state of adrenaline overload (the classic "flight" response form the caveman days) thus these drugs to fight adrenaline and increase serotonin. And the Neurontin is supposed to stop the misfiring of the nerves. Are the Lexapro and Ativan (Lorazapam) helping you?- how long have you been on them? - that is what I am taking as well. Though I just started the Lexapro. I was on the Neurontin alone first but that isn't enough apparently. How about the massage therapy? I am supposed to be getting a prescription for that soon. My pain also is sometimes in my neck and shoulders though my doctor did not say it was referred, he said it was a separate condition from clenching/and or tension. Do you find anything increases or decreases your pain? Have you tried moist heat? That gluten free diet sounds very difficult. I wonder about that as why would I suddenly become allergic to something right after dental trauma?

I like your comment it has been "deduced" that you have neuropathy. It's like how do they know for sure-that is what is causing me worry sometimes-are they missing something? It's not like they ran any tests to prove it. Yet my neurologist remains absolutely positive this is what it is.

I saw your question on your other posts on websites to get more information.
We can't really list them on this site but searches on trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain should get you started. I will look at my notes and see what helpful things I can convey as I have already researched this a lot.

Take care, keep us posted. This is indeed a strange maddening thing we have and hopefully we can learn from/support each other.

Ann123 · 01-26-2004, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michelle W

Dear Trying,

Thanks so much for sharing your story. I have been wondering if anyone else was suffering from anything similar. Unfortunately the answer is yes. I am so sorry you have been through some much. I hope things continue to get much better for you. The Neurontin has helped a lot with my pain, but I had to add another medication called Keppra. It seems many people are on Lexapro with nerve pain. It must work well. It is something to consider.

I have been wanting to go back to work part-time and wondered if any of you gals are able to work?

Thanks,
Michelle

Hi Michelle,

I do work part-time (3 days a week) in accounting. I have had this job for many years and it is not too stressful because I know it so well. And I work with a great group of ladies who I enjoy spending time with. I often find that my job distracts me from thinking about the pain. However, I am usually exhausted at the end of the work day. And my husband works for the same company so I do not have to drive myself to and from work.