From what I've read this is done by inserting hollow "Q-tips" into your nose and dripping Lidocaine and whatever other drugs into the nasal passage. The needle injury was a huge concern with the Stellate Ganglion Block. What was "appealing" to me about this is that there is no needle.

Are we talking about the same thing? If they don't block pain what do they do? Why do they use it for pain management?

The post operative report says "injury to cranial nerve V, division III on the left".

This wasn't offered to me as an option by a doctor. Someone told me about someone else having it done for a dental injury and suggested I look into it. I have not yet heard if it helped the other person.

My "medicated" pain has been increasing over the last 3 weeks and I don't understand why - emotional intolerance? medication intolerance? something going on with the nerve?

Unfortunately, I don't have any advice to give you about medicated pain as I'm not qualified on that front. I'm just a lowly general practice dentist who is applying his training to help others. This is a new frontier for most practitioners and I would think that most who have experience in treating these disorders are still at the mercy of the lack of studies in this field. I think that the experience of yours and others will add to the field of knowledge and benefit others that come after you.

When people act like they have something to hide, they usually do.

What do you want to bet that they NEVER tell them about me?

I truely understand that no one knows what to do with me. Its 2.5 years out and exactly the same today as it was right after the procedure. I am not the same person professionally or personally that I used to be. I'm close to having to give up the best assignment that I have had in 20 years because I can't multi-task like I used to, I get easily confused, I say and do stupid things, and I've even forgotten who coworkers are (ones that I worked with for YEARS). Unfortunately, I can't schedule my near nervous breakdowns around my work schedule. Stress makes the pain worse which leads to those near nervous breakdowns. The meds have their part in this also. I've been in such despair because of the pain that my husband has moved the guns. Unmedicated this pain is unlivable. And this is all because of a toothache.

Thanks for the info. I knew of someone else with a dental injury that had it done and it did not help. I don't know where that person's pain is.

Ablate Ablate Ablate. No Ganglions No Pain?

It makes sense that repeated injuries to the nerve can't be a good thing

It has been and is still terribly difficult to have any dental work done since my injury. But if needed work is put off too long, it can result in more work that will need to be done or possibly loosing more teeth.

I've actually lost more teeth by the injury site. Over the years since the injury there has been a lot of bone loss occuring there and the teeth hurting and I finally had them out. It did increase my pain for several weeks and I even had to make a trip to the ER, like in the beginning days of the injury, because of the added pain from the extractions.

But if I were you, I would not put off any needed dental work. Try to find a dentist you can talk too about your concerns and is willing to work with you.

Best Wishes,
CJ