I also saw a neurologist, who said that other than trying neurontin, there was nothing we could do.

No one has suggested I might have a neuroma. It sounds worth looking into...I think I'll google it right now. Thanks for your input.

I used capsacian cream... burns like heck when applied, but did take away some of the burning pain after I used it for awhile. I also used Lidocaine patches... you might not be able to tolerate this because it would be touching your skin for 12 hours, but it is worth a try. I've also read of people using ELMA cream to help stop the hypersensitivity.

There are more meds then just Neurontin and Elavil to help with nerve pain. I found Trileptal the most helpful. Currently I'm on Cymbalta.

Read around and then talk to your doctor about some of the other meds and treatments mentions.

Take Care
"T"

Also, what kind of doctor prescribes your medication? I had gotten mine from an oral surgeon, but we just moved to a new state.

Do you have hypersensitivity or pain? My doctors seemed to think the medications were more helpful for pain. Is the Cymbalta helping you more than the Trileptal?

Thanks.

Trileptal was the best med I took and I've taken a lot of different meds, but each med I took did something for me. I found taking several different meds at a time helped me the most. It is trial and error to find the right combo and dosages and it changes all the time. I think the topicals helped the most for the skin sensitivity, but I think everything I took worked together for my best relief. I needed both medications and topical treatments to help me.

At one point I couldn't touch my face to the pillow or have a breeze blow on it without discomfort/pain. It was hypersensitive and if touched the discomfort kept increasing even after I moved away from the touch. The capsacian cream did desensitized my skin after using it awhile. It is necessary to do this long term to get a good effect. It did burn each time it was applied and sometimes brought tears to my eyes, but once the initial burning went away my skin felt less sensitive at least for awhile. I did both the capsacian and lido patches for several month each day. I know there has been several posting of topical treatments so do a search on topical for more info.

What happens when your face is touched? What does your hypersensitivity feel like? Most of my burning pain has gone, but I still get itching, tingling and a just general odd feeling to my face now.

My Family doctor and neurologist helped with my treatment. My family doctor was the most helpful of all and she is who I only seeing now for treatment. The OS that injured me was useless in my care, but I did follow up at USCF Oral Surgery Clinic and this OS (nerve specialist) knew what she was doing and agreed with what my other doctors where doing for me.

I also used Acupuncture for relief. I don't know if it would help you, but if you haven't tried it I recommend you do. Another think I did was apply hot compresses or hot showers to my face. This gave me temporary relief.

"T"

There is no burning feeling at all to my lip and chin, but an unbearable tingling. Also a pulling and stretching feeling when I talk or smile. There's a constant awareness that is so aggravating.

I'm glad to hear that you've found treatment that helps you. It sounds like you've been through a lot with your injury. It's great that you've found a good doctor to help you.

I agree that there has to be more awareness/understanding of how life-altering this nerve damage is. I have read that in Britain, they are now recommending that extraction take place only as a last resort, and not as a routine matter. I have warned many friends and family members about my experience, but I wish the message could spread.

Have you tried medication? I'm not too sure it could help me with my sensations, but since you experience such pain I was wondering if medication could help you at all.

I know exactly what you're going through as i am eleven months post wizdom extraction and have IA damage on the left hand side.....my predominant symptom is hypersensitivity in the chin area from the under the middle of the lip to the corner and below.

I was on Tegretol for 6 months stopped taking it, things started to get fantastically better and now I've had a pretty harsh relapse which has made me not the happpiest.

My injured nerve is principally intact like yours mary but in 11 months despite the improvement internally, there has not been any discernable lessening of hypersensitivity in when shaving, talking, or anything for that matter coming into contact.

You speak of stretching and pulling - I feel that every day and trying to explain it just makes it harder.

I work in a sales capacity at a senior managerial level and my capacity to deal with it is becoming untenable. I have spoken with my treating professor and given that the window for surgery is slipping have been given some options:

1. Wait and see if it gets better with no internvention
2. Surgery - decompression of the nerve and potential cryofreezing of the nerve. The neuro i saw had mentioned that it is highly plausible that there is some swelling internally hence freeing up the nerve in the canal may simultaneously help the issue. The freeze is purely for pain internvention
3. Go back on meds - neither courses I took were good on liver or kidneys so this is unlikely.

I know how miserable this affliction is and feel for you both. I turn 30 years old on Sunday and it pains me to say that when I should be living life to the fullest, I can somedays not even walk probably on account of the pain.

2008 will not be remembered fondly. My only hope is that things settle over time otherwise the aforementioned surgery above will definitely be looked at.

Keep me informed please with your progress.

SGD