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!

[uglystik]

I have had the same thing on and off for about 5 years now!  Does anyone know what the hell it is?  35 yo male, in shape, don't smoke, heathy(ish) diet, I do enjoy a beer or two though! I'm having the symptoms right now, and this time seems to be the worst that I can recall!

[uglystik]

I have had the same thing on and off for about 5 years now!  Does anyone know what the hell it is?  35 yo male, in shape, don't smoke, heathy(ish) diet, I do enjoy a beer or two though! I'm having the symptoms right now, and this time seems to be the worst that I can recall!

[sjogrens_sad]

You may want to check into sjogrens syndrome....  but the fact that it always prevails on either one side of the head or the other, never both sides at once sounds like migraine headache.  Sjogrens sufferers experience migraine due to dry eye, glandular and dental complications being known as triggers.... something to ponder...

[sjogrens_sad]

sounds like everyone is talking about sjogrens syndrome, its quite common and quite painful...  it starts out with the eyes and can involve glands all over the body.  the headaches even involve the gums and teeth.

[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.

[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.