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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sharp Piercing Pain Along The Ear And Cheek Bone?

over the last 2 days I have had a constant steady pain on the right side of head/face, not throbbing or pulsing, just a dull steady pain.. from the ear along the upper cheek bone was severe pain, like I had been hit with something across my face, and at random, could be once every 30 min. to a couple of hrs. I would have a sharp piercing pain from where the upper and lower jaw bone meet, across my head.. would last maybe a second or less, but it would almost bring me to my knees... only thing that I could think that it would might feel like is maybe an ice pick from one side to the other and gone.. very direct and sharp... my balance would be a little off, and at times felt like I was almost scatterbrained.. any ideas as to what I might have been experiencing? its now the 3rd day, this morning was a little pain but has tapered off a great deal..
Tue, 25 Sep 2018
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Dentist,  's  Response
Hi.

Your explanation seems to be consistent with a nerve related problem known as Trigeminal Neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia can occur due to disturbances associated with the fifth cranial nerve that is the Trigeminal nerve. You need to consult a neurophysician and get evaluated for the exact cause of the nerve induced pain as there can be some causes like the most common one is a large artery impinging over the nerve causing damage of the Myelin Sheath [a protective cover over the nerve] leading to severe electric shock like pain.

Other causes are disorders like Multiple sclerosis, tumor compressing the nerve, physical trauma etc. The common drugs given to relieve neurotic pain are Carbamazipine that is the first line drug while others like Gabapaentin, Baclofen, Oxycarbazipine etc but in case if the pain does not subside then a detailed evaluation and tests like MRI SCAN can be done to rule out the underlying cause and treatment of the same can relieve.

If there is any artery impinging the nerve Microvascular decompression in which the compression over the artery is surgically removed is done. Other procedures like Balloon decompression,gama knife radiosurgery, glycerol injection etc can be done to relieve pain.

Hope I have answered your query.
Please let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards.
Dr. Honey Arora.
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What Causes Sharp Piercing Pain Along The Ear And Cheek Bone?

Hi. Your explanation seems to be consistent with a nerve related problem known as Trigeminal Neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia can occur due to disturbances associated with the fifth cranial nerve that is the Trigeminal nerve. You need to consult a neurophysician and get evaluated for the exact cause of the nerve induced pain as there can be some causes like the most common one is a large artery impinging over the nerve causing damage of the Myelin Sheath [a protective cover over the nerve] leading to severe electric shock like pain. Other causes are disorders like Multiple sclerosis, tumor compressing the nerve, physical trauma etc. The common drugs given to relieve neurotic pain are Carbamazipine that is the first line drug while others like Gabapaentin, Baclofen, Oxycarbazipine etc but in case if the pain does not subside then a detailed evaluation and tests like MRI SCAN can be done to rule out the underlying cause and treatment of the same can relieve. If there is any artery impinging the nerve Microvascular decompression in which the compression over the artery is surgically removed is done. Other procedures like Balloon decompression,gama knife radiosurgery, glycerol injection etc can be done to relieve pain. Hope I have answered your query. Please let me know if I can assist you further. Regards. Dr. Honey Arora.