Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015

Question: I have a pounding tooth/teeth ache on the left side of my face. I went to a Dentist on Friday - he took x rays and could not find anything. The reason I went was because sleeping on one cheek cause a moderate pounding. However, during the day I was fine - brushing my teeth, grinding them, touching my gums produced no pain whatsoever. Dentist concluded that it was an infection on the upper side of my teeth and prescribed pennicellin. Yesterday, the pain and pounding was intermittent, but today, it is bad AND the pain is coming from my lower teeth on the same side. It hurts to when my teeth touch and continually pounds - and the pain even goes down a little on my neck. I am 76 and in good health, but this is rather worrisome.
XXXX YYYY@YYYY

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Sounds like trigeminal neuralgia

Detailed Answer:
Hello and I am sorry you are having this problem.
It sounds like you have a nerve irritation called trigeminal neuralgia or neuritis. Please see your regular doctor instead of your dentist and see what they think after they do an exam.
You may need a referral to a neurologist. You may also need pain medication to control the discomfort.
This is not a dangerous condition but can be very painful.
You need to get a firm diagnosis so that you can get proper treatment
Please see your doctor as soon as possible.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Kathy Robinson (21 hours later)

Hi I researched on google and kept gargling salt water and usining an ice pack. Not sure whether that helped all that much but then I took an Advil and did it ever do the trick! No pain at all!!!
At the end of 6 hours, my tooth/teeth started pounding again so I took another Advil at 12:00 am it and got me through the night.

Now that I am sure the pain continues in the same lower section on my left side of mouth - - I think if comes from a chipped tooth which I had grounded down about 3 years ago. When I push down on it, it hurts as does the mollar beside it.

I am missing a mollar on my right side, so I am hopeful I will not have to pull a tooth on my left side as it would be difficult to eat anything DO YOU STILL THINK I SHOULD GO TO A MEDICAL DOCTOR OR GO BACK TO MY DENTIST?

Thanks for your help! XXXX

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (18 hours later)

Brief Answer:
hard to say for sure

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
You could check with your dentist again since you have a chipped tooth. However, if the pain continues to be severe and on your whole side of your face and neck then see your doctor.
I hope you get some relief soon,
Dr. Robinson

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar