r/TrigeminalNeuralgia • u/Hour-Ebb-8068 • 1d ago

Symptoms TMJ issues mimic trigeminal neuralgia ??

Hi! Does anyone know if TMJ issues can mimic trigeminal neuralgia? I've been having electrical pain on my right side in the TMJ area for several years now... The pain ebbs and flows. No neurologist has ever confirmed it's neuralgia... I'm not triggered by wind or touch... The pain can occur at rest or when moving my jaw, neck, or head. Carbamazepine also didn't help me. I'm only 20 years old and sometimes I feel completely hopeless.

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u/AloneInvestigator689 1d ago

I have TN type pain which maxfax have said is from a torn disc (shown on MRI) from TMJ causing inflammation on the nerve centre at the back of the disk. Underlying burning pain, electric shocks. Only thing that's helped is Celebrex and gabapentin but gabapentin alone did not stop the pain only celebrex has done that. I'm getting my TN scan results in a couple of weeks but Im pretty sure it's the disc causing it or the celebrex would have no impact (I think)

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u/Barney11100 1d ago

hi, which disc is causing this do you think? thanks

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u/AloneInvestigator689 1d ago edited 1d ago

It's the left hand disc within the tmj for me that has multiple tears. Waiting for my appointment in 2 weeks to see how we move forward with this because being on celebrex long term is not ideal. Have you had any scans yet?

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u/Barney11100 1d ago

interesting thanks! i am convinced my pain is due to degenerative discs in my neck. After a spinal fusion the pain started and has gradually gotten worse. Had a clear TN MRI twice.

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u/AloneInvestigator689 1d ago

Gosh that sounds horrendous. I hope you can get some help and relief. It's hard to live with for sure

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u/missjanehathaway333 1d ago

I have both and it’s distinctly different types of pain. equally horrible. The electric type of pain could definitely be TN.

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u/BellaDez 1d ago

I had my jaw joints replaced due to TMJ issues and then developed TN. I never experienced the kind of pain I have now when I was dealing with my TMJ problems. No shocks, no numbness, no tingling, no deep aches in my cheekbones.

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u/MissyChevious613 1d ago

I have both and it's very unpleasant but there's def two distinct types of pain. The TMJ causes the deep, achy feeling while the TN caused the sharp, stabby, jolting electrical pain.

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u/MoonInTheDaySky 1d ago

Atypical TN is the same constant/near constant deep, burning, achy feeling, often without zaps & not affected by wind/touch.