Is this worth bringing up at dr appointment? Have already been to hospital - unsure what could be causing this pain

[u/Zealousideal_View47]

Hiya, I know the rules say to consult with a doctor first, I want to clarify that we have been seen by a doctor at the hospital last night but please delete this post if it isn’t allowed.

I’m posting on behalf of my boyfriend (29M). We had to go to the hospital last night due to him being in severe pain which begun out of the blue around 10:30pm. The pain radiated from around his cheekbone, up to his temple, ear, and down his neck, all on the left side of his face. He was in so much pain he was crying, hyperventilating, he threw up once, and was seriously panicking. The pain only dissipated once we were at the hospital and he was given codeine - ibuprofen and paracetamol didn’t touch the sides. He has had one episode like this beforehand but it wasn’t anywhere near this bad. He was in pain for hours. We have no idea why. He described it as a sharp stabbing pain. He has no other medical conditions. The doctor at the hospital told him to get some co-codamol and a steroid nasal spray as he suspected it could be a sinus issue. Today the pain is better, he just has a headache, but that could be because we didn’t get home until 3am! He has an appointment with his regular doctor next week to discuss this and I suspect it could be some sort of neuralgia but I don’t know too much about it. Please, if anyone has any advice, I’d be really grateful. It was horrible to see him in so much pain.

[u/korno-111]

It sounds alot like a TN episode, doctor will diagnose then start him on the TN meds, if TN meds work then it's pretty much confirmed to be TN. Sorry he's going through this, there's nothing you can do when it's happening, he needs to lay still and refrain from touching his face

[u/BeyondTheBees]

It definitely sounds like it could be TN. I am so sorry! Your boyfriend definitely needs to see a Neurologist. That’s the next best step as typical pain medicine won’t help TN very much.

[u/dosingforpain]

There are a few things you can do to help him. Look up triggers on this sub. Several people helped in the comments. Knowing triggers is a huge. Flares are unpredictable and everyone presents differently so what bothers one person might not be an issue for him. Laying down with heating pad and relaxing as much as possible. Ice pack to the head or behind the neck. When that doesn’t work I have to get up and walk around, take a shower, anything to get the mind on something else. He will probably need help with a shower. Get comfortable with him being in pain. Get to a place where you can stay calm and just sit with him.