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Pressure/pain in nose & upper teeth

Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) | Last Active: Dec 27, 2023 | Replies (46)

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@smithakar

Hello,

I have been dealing with extreme nose & upper teeth pain the past 1.5 years. The pain is constant and effects my everyday life. It started 2-3 weeks before I tested positive for Covid so I am not sure if this is related to Covid or a separate issue. At first I thought it was sinus related so I went to ENT. They checked my nose & did a CT scan and didn't see any signs of sinusitis but because I had a deviated septum and other structural issues they decided to do surgery. I had relief for 6 weeks post surgery but then the pain came back. The ENT doctors do not believe this is sinus related. When I went to Neurology they ruled about Trigeminal Neuralgia and other neuro issues because my pain is usually bilateral. I have been to the dentist, a TMJ specialist, rheumatologist I have done several nerve blocks, taken steroids, antibiotics, acupuncture, ayurvedic meds, pain clinic, everything you can think of. I am a patient at Mayo and when I visited MN as a long covid patient I did get some suggestions but those aren't working either. Is there anyone that relates to my issues?

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Replies to "Hello, I have been dealing with extreme nose & upper teeth pain the past 1.5 years...."

Hi @smithakar Yes, I can relate. I just started having very sharp pains in my right temple and one upper right molar at the same time, off and on for a week. Then it changed to sharp pain in right ear and same upper right molar at the same time, off and on. I did have a really bad virus, sick for two weeks ending about 2-3 before this started, but don't know if it's related. I have had some mild headaches that come and go lately and I normally rarely get one. I tested negative for COVID, but the virus sure was intense and lasting. Had to take a steroid pack a couple weeks after I was better because my cough wasn't.

Trigeminal neuralgia is what I had zeroed in on while researching the sharp pains on my right side. I've had issues with occipital neuralgia in the past (lightning pains going across the top of my head on left side for about 2 years straight maybe 15 years ago). Still get it occasionally, but it's brief. My then neurologist told my that originates in the neck and I do have a lot of neck issues.

For about 10 years, I've had intermittent aching in the left ear, soft spot just below the left ear, aching in lower left teeth and sometimes sharper pain in upper left molor (same one as the right side). I don't think it's TMJ or dental. It's more nuisance pain than life altering. I had an MRI to check for an acoustic neuroma years ago -- negative. I used to think maybe it was from the A/C in my office, but I left there years ago and it continued. The issues on the two sides do not seem related and again, the right side stuff just started. They don't happen at the same time. On the right side, I've also had a tender spot to touch in the temple for years or decades, but it comes and goes. It scares me and feels like something is going to pop. I've had lots of brain MRIs for various reasons and nothing has ever shown up to explain any of this.

All that said, I do have a rare hereditary neuropathy with pressure palsies that causes a LOT of pain issues throughout my body, muscle weakness, etc. so maybe that is also the cause of all this? My son also has HNPP with a LOT of different pain, muscle weakness issues.

I don't have any answers for you and have no plans to pursue this at present because cancer is my focus and nothing neuro ever gets better for me, but I do feel your pain (no pun intended) and frustration. Random pain gets tiresome.

...sorry if I am misunderstanding the problems you are having and I sympathize with you as also have odd pressure pain and such in various areas of my head; one thing I had for years was a filled large top molar that wasnt really a toothache but almost as if the tooth were "wooden" peg in gum, hard to explain.. anyway it wasn't until I changed dentists and got copy of my patient file from former one, it sat around for a year and one day decided to read it with my limited knowledge of dentistry and was shocked to find out that this tooth i had and have been complaining about has root into my sinus cavity; I mentioned to hygienist one time when getting teeth cleans and she said its only a prloblme if you have to have the tooth out: and I read about those problems and and so upset and can need a bone graft etc. etc./infection and such yet both dentists never told me about this issues! Sometimes its not painful but "hurts" and now I know why - is it at all possible that your pain is from a molar root??Just an idea.. hope you get some help sooner rather than later! J.

Hi @smithakar. I just saw ent for my pressure/pain head and especially face. They also saw slight area of deviation but felt per my dealing with this also over year and a half, using cpap for covid created apnea, and now hypersensitivity to meds, paper cut, activity/movements surgery not warranted until other noninvasive things tried. Hope you can find healthcare provider in your areas of care that can suggest alternatives to help and possibly refer to another specialist to rule out/provide healing to you🌈

I have read that some people have bi-lateral TN so it shouldn't be ruled out. Mine came after taking Letrozole for cancer. What has given men some relief are hot compresses, walks and taking Alpha Lipoic Acid.

Good luck,
Helene