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!

[cckar]

I have recently got the same thing, I realize your post is from 2009 but I stumbled upon it now and have the same thing, first time though. Dentist said it was a virus and gave me acyclovir, I take every 12 hours for 10 days. Also he told me to rinse with perio plus 3 times a day, I do it a little more if I have too, helps pain. When using Perio Plus dont swish in mouth for 1 minute, spit it out and dont drink anything so it can do its work. Also I was told to bring my PH up and he told me to take a shooter glass fill with 1/2 ounce of pure lime juice and swig it to back of throat trying not to touch my teeth. For pain I am to take ibuprofen but I know my stomach doesnt like that to much, so I take tylenol, 2 per 4 hours. sometimes pain was so excrutiating i have to take before the 4 hours is up.  I am also making shakes (healthy ones) I take CoCo Libre 1 cup , 1 cup water, 1 scoop vega protein powder, 1 apple ( I like Gala apples), a handful of kale and blend. You can add blueberries or others things too. I usually freeze my apple ( which I cored and sliced) and put kale together in a baggie ahead of time. I enjoy this shake year round. You can use any combo of shake you like as long as there are some good greens in it as well. anyhow good luck to the rest of you hope this helps.

[pzak]

Same here!!! Its been going on for a couple of years, off and on, every few months.  Woke up today with the old familiar feeling on my left side under my eye and by my ear...ugh!  It changes all the time! Sometimes its my scalp, Jaw, even the back of my legs???? Very tender to touch, even though you cant see any swelling or anything abnormal. So strange, and no answers from anyone!  I've heard Fibromyalgia symptom, TMJ, Shingles, Herpes ( of which I have had both years ago) It seems to me it happens when my immune system is down a bit.  Sure wish someone had an answer as mine has been occurring more frequently.  I just don't want to go to a bunch of Dr.'s and hear a bunch of BS when they really don't know.  I usually just wait it out 3-4 days and its gone again. Anybody get any real solutions or diagnosis, please reply!!!

[Diannef]

I would be interested in how you are managing. I also have this problem and I have never heard of anyone else with it until I found this stream. Doctors have not helped, and have no idea. They also suggest the acyclovir and valtrex but the medications do not work/help which makes me think this is not viral afterall. But still it must be viral as what else would come and go the way it does. I wish I could speak with others who have this!
Dianne

[Diannef]

Wow! Me too. No doctors help, or have any idea. I am upset that it is getting to be more frequent and more painful. I'd appreciate communicating with someone else who is experiencing this. I can't believe I found this conversation!
Dianne

[Diannef]

Me too. YEARS! but it is also getting worse and more frequent. I just found this conversation and it doesn't seem that people are responding to each other. How are you doing with it today? I'm going through it at this moment and it really wipes me out.
Dianne

[Diannef]

I just found this conversation. I also have the same thing and I would appreciate communicating with others about their experience. I realize this is years old but if you are still experiences the problem or if you are not I'd like to hear from you. If anyone has had the problem go away completely I'd love to know about that and if you still have it I'd be interesting in the way you're living with it.
Thanks Dianne

[Dee0915]

I have the same exact thing! I think it is from anything sharp ( could be a potato chip) that cuts the gums... ( gums could be very sensitive) I have it for about 2 days. Usually I take 3 Motrin and the pain goes away

[wildberry7]

Mine starts with a gum irritation as well After cereal, chips whatever. If Something hits my gum I go through the roof! The pain/ inflammation travels through my jaw joint into my ear. Skin sensitivity intermittent stabs of pain behind my ear.

[Neetsie5]

I've  been dealing with the same thing as well. It's so painful that I literally cry in agony and pain medicine is not effective. I finally found a solution! A neurologist told me it's a form of a migraine. He gave me a medicine sample which was a pill and it knocked out the pain, it was wonderful. I took the RX to have it filled and the 2 pills were $200! The pharmacist said to ask my dr for Immitrex and to take 2 naproxen sodium at the same time. She said it's the same active ingredients that are in the expensive pills and It's less than $10. I tried it and it works amazingly well. It's the only thing that helps, but you have to take it when the symptoms first appear.