Any sufferers of facial neuralgia here?

[*oh*no*i*just*wet*my*espadrilles*]

I've had facial neuralgia once before some years ago, and it lasted a week or so from memory, but this bout is worse. 

The whole of the right side of my face / neck is on fire, with even the lightest touch of my skin causing discomfort, and this radiates into my neck.  Thankfully I'm not getting the intermittent 'electric shock' shooting pain sensations as well (I did last time, though back then, I only had painful skin from my ear down to my jaw)

I'm not planning on going to the doctors just yet, as the neuralgia could subside again in a week or so, but I wondered if there are any others here who had suffered from the same complaint, and could pass on any info to help relieve the symptoms.

Many thanks 🙂

[stroppy*cow]

I often get it, and the only tip I can offer is get to to the doctor as soon as you can and get a prescription for strong pain killers.

I knew someone who swore by a tens machine, but it just made mine worse.

[*oh*no*i*just*wet*my*espadrilles*]

Hi and I appreciate the reply 🙂

* Which painkillers have you found effective?

* How long do your symptoms last for?

* Have your eyes hurt too? (not the surrounding area, but the eyeball or lid itself?)

Thanks

[stroppy*cow]

To be honest, I don't find the pain killers do much to ease the pain, they do however make me so spaced out that I no longer care that it hurts.

I have a whole raft of pain killers - oral morphine fentanyl, pethedine, oxycodone, tramadol, codeine , and then there are the U.S. ones - vicodin, percocet, palladone.

Symptoms can last anything from a few hours to several weeks, it is very variable.

Sometimes both the eyeball and the lid hurt, open or closing the eye is agonising, trying to focus on an object painful, but not always - again it is very variable.

Both hot and cold weather can set it off.

[stroppy*cow]

Sorry - missed the main one off the list of pain killers - Gabapentin is probably the most effective for neuralgia.

[*oh*no*i*just*wet*my*espadrilles*]

Many many thanks, that info is really helpful.

If things haven't improved by the end of the week, I'll be off to the doctors.

[soppysofty]

Please go to the docs now!

Gabapentin is the medicine you need and is very, very effective.  It is prescription only so you must see the doc.

Why suffer when the solution is in your hands.

The doc will start you on a low dose of Gabapentin and will gradually increase it until you find the right dose for your symptons.

Once you are there ask the doc to put it on repeat for you so you can get it when you have your next flareup without bothering the doc.

The way Gabapentin works is as a nerve blocker so it stops the pain receptors from working meaning you are free from pain.  It was originally prescribed as an anti-epilepsy drug but is now used for nerve related problems.

It is a short term use drug which is usually used for a maximum of 3 months at a time.

Please Google Gabapentine if you are concerned but, as a neuralgia sufferer of many years, I can vouch for the fact that it is almost magic in the way it works.

[mustard-tree]

I had similar symptoms a few years ago, and was told by doctor that it was Erysipelas, a form of cellulitis

As it can be caused by bacteria or an allergy, I was given antibiotics and antihistamine

It cleared up within a week, I still have no idea which medication cured it.

[ilove2patch]

It can also be the first sign of Shingles so an urgent visit to the doctor is a good idea.

[saasher2012]

I advise you to go to your GP .ASAP.!

[**towery**]

ring the docs  now,

tell them  you arent sure if its  shingles or not

its important to get drugs quickly if it is shingles, if it isnt then they can give you other drugs ,  but you do need to act quickly

gabatentin is a great drug  for nerve pain

[rose2008-2008]

Its important to go to the Doctors now before it gets worse. I hope you get it sorted out. 

[*oh*no*i*just*wet*my*espadrilles*]

Thank you everyone for the replies

I made a docs appt this morning for tomorrow, and then I went for my physio lunchtime at the hospital (for my back pain) and told the therapist about the neuralgia.  (I don't know how I made it there, but was overdue for a visit)  

The therapist told me to get to the doctors asap and not to hang around, so I left there and went to the doctors and asked for an emergency appt, which wasn't possible as there was only one doctor on duty, and that they were just leaving for home visits. (odd as there were people waiting to be seen, but I had no strength to argue)

Anyhow, the doctor phoned me at home later on, and as I described my symptoms, she agreed that neuralgia was the culprit.  She was about to send a prescription to my local pharmacists, for immediate collection until I then told her I could barely move my neck for pain, and she said that was a seperate issue, and it would be better if I was still seen tomorrow for a full consultation. 

She did say that she will be happy to prescribe gabapentin, carbmazepine (or another drug I can't remember) so tonight I'll do a bit of research and see which has the lesser side effects / best results.  Apparantly none will work instantly, but should do after some days have passed by increasing their dosage.

Thanks folks for encouraging me to get help quicker than I would have - I'm seeing the doctor for other things, so I put off going in the hopes it would get better itself, as I didn't want to be a nuisance or look like a hypochondriac!

Tara x

p.s

Though some of my symptoms are similar to those of shingles, I should have had a rash by now, which isn't present, so fingers crossed it is neuralgia for sure.

[ilove2patch]

Glad you are seeing the doctor & I hope ypou feel better soon.

[*oh*no*i*just*wet*my*espadrilles*]

Thank you

[merc1_clocks]

 I hope you will be pain-free soon

[**towery**]

glad you have an appointment

i must say  my dad only had 3 or 4 spots with  his shingles and 2 were in his hair 😐

he left it too late for the doc tablets to make any difference

[ilove2patch]

My mums Shingles were on her scalp & face. 

[*oh*no*i*just*wet*my*espadrilles*]

Hmmm, I just did a bit more research, and you can have shingles WITHOUT a rash. 😮

I'll discuss this tomorrow and get the doctor to check my scalp for me.

Thanks again for the kind advice and support x

[saasher2012]

How did you get on at the GPs? I'm sure we are all dying to know.