Facial Pain, Numbness with Chronic Neck Pain and TMJ

[CrVala]

   Hello,
I am a 24 year old female with TMJ and chronic neck pain.  I have been getting treated for the TMJ for a year and half, though I've had symptoms for it since I was 10.  I've been seeing a chiropractor for 4 months when my neck pain got worse instead of better like my TMJ doctor had told me.

For the past 5 months now, I have been having pain on the right side of my head, eye, eyebrow area, eye socket, cheek, and right side of the nose.  This is also the same side my neck pain and jaw clicking occurs.  The pain is deep, achy, and at times throbbing, except for the on the cheeks, which can sometimes feel like a stabbing at the top of my cheek bone or the bottom of my eye socket, can't tell which it would be.   I also feel twitching sensations at the tip of my nose and sometimes in my eyelid.    Occasionally my cheek will just go numb, as if it's gone asleep.  It will stay like that for about 5 minutes, and I can still move my face when it happens.  

The most prominent pain is my neck and eye.  The other pain comes and goes (though still occurring everyday or every other day), but the neck and eye pain is constant and both in very specific spots.  The eye pain is in the upper corner, right where the eye socket meets the very top of the nose, where that curve is.  And I often feel it in my eye in the inner corner, when I move my eye that direction.   It hurts more when I touch and put pressure on that spot, as I've compared to what happens when I put the same pressure on the other eye's corner and it doesn't hurt there at all.

I should also mention that my eyelid is drooping.  I'm not sure if its considered the eyelid or part of the eyebrow area, but it is the skin directly below the eyebrow and directly above the skin that actually covers the eyeball.  It started drooping  very gradually, starting almost a year ago on the outer corner of the eye and now the drooping has spread full across the entire eye area from the outer to inner corner,  making that eyeball appear like its sinking down my face.

This is all extremely hard for me to deal with as I don't have health insurance and most of the doctor's I've seen have not been able to do full testing on me because I can't pay for it.
I've seen an opthamologist who just assumed it was allergies, did no tests, and just gave me eye drops.  When I came for a follow up 3 weeks later with my symptoms of course not improved, she said the same thing and gave me more eye drops.
I've seen a neurologist who told me that the appearance of my eye must have always been this way and I never noticed, and to do lighter less aggressive form of stretching so the neck isn't always in pain.  She also recommended I come back after I get insurance so I can get an MRI.
I saw an ENT who did a CT scan but found nothing wrong with my sinuses.  

So after having spent $800 on these doctor visits alone, I just don't know where to go next.  I was trying to save money by skipping a primary doctor (that I don't have anyway) and go straight to a specialty.  But now I don't know what specialty to go to.  I also would like to know how lower income people and students are able to get an MRI without paying full price.  

I truly appreciate any responses. thanks alot.

[mom2makinlee]

I have been having a lot of the same symptoms you all mentioned...anyone figure out what was wrong?  

I have my 2nd MRI of brain and cervical spine scheduled for this Friday.  First one said ALL NORMAL...well I dont feel normal.

Thanks!

[ingrid1968]

Facial symptoms on the one side - have you considered Bell's palsy?

Shooting pain below my shoulder blade - have you had your gall bladder checked out?

[mamita00]

Hi, I'm sorry you're having such misfortune and no insurance to boot. I'm not sure where in the world you live but if it's in the U.S. try applying for medicaid. I know it's not the first thing you necessarily want to do but necessity is necessity. If you aren't able to apply then check your local hospital.Some offer low cost health programs, such as clinics and physicians and even insurance for those who are low income or meet other applicable qualifications. Right now I am without insurance and I was terrified when I lost it! Talk with your doctors about your situation, too, that may help. My neurologist discounted to $50 for office visit, rheumatologist $70, pcp no charge. I didn't sob story or lay it on thick, just the truth that my husband lost his job and I had no insurance, could I split my bill in two or three if necessary. I've been with my rheumatologist and pcp for more than 10 yrs. so they were exceptional and I was very grateful. I'm grateful to all of them for their kindness and I'm sure you'll find some who are equally kind and caring for your physical needs. Your local hospital probably has a website and you should be able to see if they offer any community health programs or can help you find one. Check the doctors office, your local department of human services or family independence agency should be able to help you. Good luck!

[eb2003]

Jesus, this is not encouraging.  I hurt my neck about four weeks ago exercising and believe that I may have torn a ligament in the back of my neck- since then I have had swelling at the site of the injury, numbness in the jaw and face, roof of the mouth, numbness on my left side, fingers and foot, difficulty focusing, headaches, trouble with my balance, etc.  I have had a neck MRI, a brain MRI with contrast, an MRA of both the head and neck with contrast, an ultra sound on the arteries in my neck, a ton of bloodwork, and visits with an opthamologist (2), a neurologist, an orthopedic, 2 GPs, all test results normal. It's a nightmare, I don't remember how it felt to wake up feeling normal.

[Raisinhead]

I have had varying degrees of facial pain, headache etc on right side of my face for many, many years.  (started in teens, now 67yrs old).  I have been the specialist route and diagnosed as migraine years ago with the numerous drugs prescribed.
Today, my GP suggested Lyrica.  Have any of you tried Lyrica?  If so, has it helped reduce the pain and do you feel comfortable with the drug?

Eileen in Canada

[AlishaS]

I have been having these symptoms too & am very frustrated w/ the docs for always saying "everything looks normal"!  Well I'm sorry, but I don't feel normal, so something obviously must be wrong!  On one of the many MRI's I've had recently they show a "Mild benign Cerebellar Tonsillar Ectopia w/o Chiari 1 malformation".  They don't think that it could be causing all of my symptoms though (debilitating HA's for over 3 wks now & horrible dizziness where sometimes I can't even walk & last few days tingling in my leg).  My MRI shows the bones in my neck are extremely straight & they're supposed to be curved.  I went to a chiropractor who specializes in putting curves back in peoples necks.  He told me he feels certain that once I get the curve back in my neck my symptoms will go away!  He said give it 3 months of twice a day physical therapy program called Pettibon.  I have just started this program & don't have any results yet, but to me, it's worth a shot b/c no other docs have any ideas on what could be causing my severe symptoms!  I'm extremely frustrated, but am holding on to this hope that the Pettibon program of Chiropractic will help save me!