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!

[acwilson68]

I have exactly the same symptoms super sensitive skin along cheek bone and eye socket area.  Hair hurts to touch lightly but no different rough,  eye feels hot on outer edge and orb.  Exactly half my head, other side fine!
Had this a few times now......no answers sorry but I'll keep searching.

My Dr said, I quote "time is a great healer, if its worse next week come back if its gone, well and good", ****!

[B3lls]

Awoke this morning with pain & swelling on my right head, face & neck. Not the 1st time but the worst pain yet. I have had sinus problems for years & also recently diagnosed with a mild stroke & a bulging disk/pinched nerve in my cervical spine. I have a Butrans patch that works great but still have a little pain in my face. Butrans patch prescription is from pain management Dr. I 'm currently diagnosing my self with T.N. since the symptoms are almost identical. No insurance at this time, but hopefully in the next couple of months will have it. In the mean time it's good to know that I'm not the only person with this pain & it helps to read & comment about it. Thanks & good luck to all

[Flippt]

Hi all!

I know this thread is old but it's been a revelation reading it so I felt I had to reply.

I've had these exact symptoms for years and no-one has had a clue what it is. It's exactly as others have described and is usually on the left side, though it occasionally moves to the right though never both at once. It's definitely some kind of nerve pain, not sharp but just painful to touch and very strange. Pain can be on the side of the face, at the back of the throat, around the eye, in the ear and over the scalp to the crown. Like others have said, even blinking can be painful.

I just put up with it but I've got to say that reading this thread has made me feel so much better. Not that I want others to suffer from it too but knowing I'm not on my own has been a blessing.

If I ever find out what it is or how to prevent it, I'll be right back to post.

In the meantime, I wish you all the best.

Philip x

[Hazd]

hi i have the same pain i also went to a dentist he said it wasn't teeth related and i went and saw an ENT doctor he prescribed some pain killers and some thing like citrocen but not exactly that and nose drops the pain went a way in 3 to 4 days i also get it every month i think the best thing to do is to inhale steam and try to keep you're nostrils clean and rest nun of these medicines work. it comes with braking rest and stress so try to avoid both i have it at this moment im putting a leave and going home to sleep it out.

[Beatles68]

My pain in the left side of my face started about a year ago.  I've been suffering from cold sores (herpes simplex virus) since childhood, mostly with outbreaks around my mouth.  As I got older, the sores started to develop also under my nose.  And then a year ago, the roof of my mouth, especially the left side would get really sore and painful.  I don't feel pain in my eye but my left jaw and cheekbone hurt. Also, I've been getting these sores on the inside of my left nostril.  They seem to be different then the cold sores and they take forever to heal.  I do grind my teeth and had my dentist try to adjust my bite and I also suffer from migraines.  Dentist seemed at a loss to what it is. Anyone have anymore insight out there?

[tlhm]

I have had this issue for years. I ve found that my immune system gets suppressed and I start getting a mouth sore/ or cold sore and if I don't take valtrex immediately I will have nerve pain on one side of face and neck. I believe it is associated with herpes and shingles. From what I inderstand they are related. I was not happy taking valtrex as much as I was and decided to try lysine. I take 1000 mgs everyday and that he's helped me tremendously. I still have times where It gets bad enough and and I have to resort to the valtrex  but it is much less. This is a very painful condition.  The other thing that helps is taking Advil and Tylenol together for the nerve pain, they work synergistically somehow. Also icing the pain in the face. If anyone has any other ideas please post.  I will try almost anything as I am so tired of this.