What symptoms do you experience that point to TN? Personally, I haven't had MSG as a trigger -- but there are many things that can trigger TN pain. One of my oddest triggers was eating peanut butter off of a metal spoon -- WHAM! I would get an electric shock.
Perhaps some of our other community members could comment if MSG is a trigger for them as well.
I have severe pain all down the right side of my nose, under my right eye, in my right eye socket, none of which is relieved by any type of over the counter painkillers or sinus decongestants. It was suggested to me this could be neuralgia instead.
When I get the pain it lasts three days and makes me sick. I don't know where to put myself, It makes my face feel like it is drooping.
Have you been to a facial pain specialist? You can find one at a large teaching hospital. These docs deal with facial pain patients every day.
TN is usually diagnosed by listening to the patient. The docs perform various diagnostic tests to rule out everything else.
It's helpful to the doctors if you keep a pain journal containing items like: where it hurts, when it hurts, what seems to trigger the pain, how it hurts (i.e. - stabbing, burning, electric shock, etc); how long the pain lasts (before I was diagnosed I would say the pain lasted a long time -- but with the doctor's questioning, it was more of a sporadic type pain, lasting a few minutes at a time -- of course, it kept happening over and over, thus my belief it was constant).
Are you on any medication yet?
Some coping mechanisms I've used are Oragel -- because my pain was in the mouth area, a microwaveable beanbag -- because the heat on my face seemed to ease the pain. Some folks think cold works better for them. Everyone is different.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. Facial pain is tough to deal with, but there IS hope. There are great doctors out there and medications that can give you pain relief.
Let us know how you're doing and what your doctors have to say.
Take care!
Nancy
Msg triggers my nuralgia. So does many food additives. Artificial sweatners are a big problem for me.
I shop now for only whole foods. Nothing in a can, nothing processed .
My pain is much less when I avoid these.
I have dealt with nuralgia for 29 years. 7surgeries that have not helped.
It changes your life but it is possible to live with when you figure out most of your triggers. Know that sometimes there is no known trigger, it just happens.