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!

[betto09]

Let me know what you find out.  I suffer from exactly the same thing.

[Lathnos]

I also have this. This is my second bout of this and thought it was herpes simplex 1 coming on because I have had recurring sores in my left nostril. These last two bouts do not cause any sores. I just have constant pain on the left side of the roof of my mouth and intermittent pain on left side of face, left eye, left ear. I asked my doctor
to prescribe a med for it and he prescribed  acyclovir. So far no improvement. I have no swelling. This is such a strange thing. I would love to know what it is. It began last Tuesday afternoon and began medication Wednesday morn.

[AmrS]

When this thing happens, is it during a time of stress?

[pixella]

I get the same thing a few times a year and it it getting worse now with the eye pain. It even hurts to blink. For me it is always on the left side and the sores in the mouth are all over the roof.  I have never tried the anit-viral though that is interesting and I might try it.  Also, the mouth sores can get better with Peroxyl mouthwash.  It works pretty well and can help so you can eat.  It is interesting how no one really knows what this is...

[classysarah]

It sounds like trigeminal neuralgia. I just got diagnosed with this snd I have exactly the same symptoms. I was also given valtrex, because the dr thought it was shingles, however I never got sny sores. I would make an appt with a neurologist to get an mri.

[Daneydo]

Your information about your situation sounds the most accurate.  I have the same thing. I am a dental hygienist and can assure you it is not dental related. The dentists I have asked tend to think it is a mild case of shingles. Did an MRI show a confirmed trigeminal neuralgia? I don't want to pay for an MRI unless it's necessary.