left sided facial/eye/mouth pain

[shallet]

Every couple months, I get left sided facial pain.  My eye hurts, my mouth hurts (gums usually get swollen and I can't even chew food on that side), and the skin on that side hurts to even touch it--even my scalp.  It's like you could cut my head/face directly down the middle and the left side hurts extremely bad and the right side feels fine.  A few times, I've gone to the dentist (mainly because that's where it starts about 50% of the time) because my gums were so swollen.  They've even become purple sometimes.  Anyway, he says it's a virus and gives me a prescription for valtrex.  It's been happening so often (every 2 months or so) that he's given me refills on the valtrex because we've found out if I start taking it as soon as I know this is coming on, it stops the pain before it gets too bad.  Usually it takes 1-2 days before the pain gets excruciating and now at least the pain doesn't get out of control.  But, I've noticed that it is happening more often (used to be every 4-6 months and for the past year it's been happening every 2 months) and the valtrex doesn't stop it as well anymore.  I have gone to a "quick care" when the pain was more in my eye and cheek and they had no ideas for me.  Do you have any suggestions on what this is and what I should do?  Thank you!

[Velouise]

I have all the same things on my left side...don't know what it is for sure as each doc I go to has a different idea. I have found some relief by massaging my gums on that side and the most relief comes from placing a hot water bottle over where it is hurting

[Queeniebabe]

I too suffer with left side gum pain, sometimes shooting pains from the gum through the jawline to the ear.  The only relief I got each time was pulling the tooth in the pain area ..and I did get relief, only to have to attack the next tooth area on the bottom left.  3 teeth gone now... gum still burning, feeling like I'm cutting teeth (wisdom teeth) ...that's the only pain I could remember that was so bad that it relates too.  I'm 60 yrs. old and never before had dental problems.  My dentist thinks its a neuro problem, so guess what Dr. I'm seeing !  Med Dr. thinks its a "sleep disorder" ..so, had the sleep study , waiting for results !  I can't afford to lose any more teeth, chewing only on right side of my mouth is taking a tole on the right side teeth now.   HELP !!!

[LaLa_69]

I also have the same left sided symptoms, ulcerated mouth, facial pain, gums sore and generally feeling pretty awful. I was told it was Herpes Simplex 1 virus so the symptoms are a more severe form of cold sore.
I take aciclovir each time but not sure it really helps. I also need strong painkillers and amytriptyline if it is really bad.
So nice to know I am not going mad! My doctor and dentist think in am mad when I keep going back about it. Also seems to be stress related........

[bozana64]

It can be Occipital or Atypical trigeminal neuralgia. I have pains since many years and it hurts a lot. In my case is much worse this ATN (because of chronic Sinusitis). Occipital Neuralgia is on the right side of the head (behind right ear) and it is very sharo pain, like somebody goes with the knife and cuts my head. My ENT doctor wrote me diagnosis about ATN.

[wizby]

I have exactly the same symptoms and I've had them for years. Sometimes they're more painful and last longer, always on the left side - my dr tested me for arthritis, with no result of course. I feel horrible right now with a very sore eye as well. I wish someone knew what it was. I don't drink or smoke, I eat tons of veggies and other lovely stuff and am other wise healthy

[mellyviller]

WOW! I googled these exact same symptoms. I have had this for about three yrs now every 3-4 months and none of my doctors can figure out what it is. I also have arnold chiari malformation in my brain which I had just assumed was just maybe pushing on a nerve or something. Has anyone yet been properly diagnosed?? I am having this again right now and it *****!! I also get a sharp electrocuting pain for about 3 days straight each time. It is killer!! I would really like to know what it is..