neurobiology of orofacial pain?
460615
At least one of the cranial nerves is irritated.\n\nYou need to map and describe the pain, to work out which nerves they are.
604925
you have made me remember a friend from 20 years ago who drove us crazy comp;aining about this condition i regret not being more understanding of the terrible pain she was experiencing at the time believe me the only thing that helped this dear friend was valium. if worse comes to worse try it because i personally witnessed a complete reversal of her condition when she started to take it,perhaps it works as a dental muscle relaxor or something like that i know the dentist here uses the valium for a lot of procedures anyway be well.
949234
What Is It? \n \n \n\nTrigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a disorder of one of the nerves in the face that causes brief, shock-like pain, usually on one side of the jaw, cheek or mouth. This disorder involves the fifth cranial (trigeminal) nerve, which is responsible for sending impulses to the brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead and the area around the eyes. \nThe cause of trigeminal neuralgia is not always known. The condition can occur as a result of multiple sclerosis, a brain tumor or another brain disease, such as an aneurysm. However, in 90% of cases, there is no serious brain disease. One widely held theory is that the problem is caused by an artery pressing on the trigeminal nerve where it exits the brain. A computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be done to check for a brain lesion. \n\nTrigeminal neuralgia is rarely seen in people under the age of 50. When it does occur in younger people, the cause is more likely to be a tumor, aneurysm or multiple sclerosis.\n\n \n  Symptoms \n \n \n\nTrigeminal neuralgia is characterized by a sudden, severe, electric-shock-like attack of pain on one side of the face. The pain generally lasts for several seconds to a minute and then disappears. Shaving, showering, eating, speaking or even exposure to wind can trigger a painful episode, and patients often protect the trigger zone. Trigger zones usually are found around the cheek, nose, lips or inside the mouth. When the trigger zone is inside the mouth, it often is confused with a toothache.\n\n \n  Diagnosis \n \n \n\nTrigeminal neuralgia is diagnosed based on the symptoms, including a history of characteristic pain along the trigeminal nerve. An MRI scan should be done to look for other possible conditions, such as a tumor, aneurysm or multiple sclerosis.\n\n \n  Expected Duration \n \n \n\nTrigeminal neuralgia attacks last for several seconds to a minute and then totally disappear, but they may be repeated one after another. The number of attacks can vary from one or two per day to several per minute throughout the day. Episodes of attacks can last for days, weeks or months at a time and then disappear for extended periods of time. People with severe trigeminal neuralgia can be significantly disabled by the attacks.\n\n \n  Treatment \n \n \n\nA number of drugs can help to prevent attacks, including oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), carbamazepine (Tegretol, Atretol, Carbatrol, Epitol), gabapentin (Neurontin) and phenytoin (Dilantin and other brand names). However, these drugs have the potential for serious side effects, and a dentist or physician should monitor their use. These medications sometimes are used in combination with other drugs, such as baclofen (Lioresal), to help achieve pain relief. Some of these medications require blood tests while you are taking them to monitor liver function and the level of the drug in your blood. \nIf medication fails to provide relief, your doctor may refer you to a neurosurgeon to talk about surgical treatment options. \n\n \n  When To Call A Professional \n \n \n\nIf you are experiencing pain characteristic of trigeminal neuralgia (electric-shock-like pain on one side of the jaw or cheek), you should see your dentist or physician immediately.\n\n \n  Prognosis \n \n \n\nTrigeminal neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition unless it is caused by a tumor, aneurysm or other brain disease. Yet, the condition can be incapacitating. However, most cases can be controlled with medication, and/or surgery. \n\n \n  Additional Info \n \n \n\nNational Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke \nP.O. Box 5801 \nBethesda, MD 20824 \nPhone: (301) 496-5751 \nhttp://www.ninds.nih.gov/
241164
You are obviously not a woman...lol!!  We're told our pain is necessary...I cause to supply the human race!  I wish teeth were my only pain!
996499
You should find a dentist that promotes pain free dentistry.  It is not really pain free of course but they tend to help those of us with more sensitive mouths/teeth.  Good luck.
880372
Ofcourse your first option should be to go to the dentist and know the reasons for the pain. Possible cause is a tooth decay. I'd suggest you having mild things like paracetamol or if there's a great lot of pain, go with diclomol. Obviously, analgesics are not a choice here tho. Back here in India, we do apply clove-oil in the affected area and that really works. Keep rinsing your mouth with salted water and brushing after every meal and avoid cold stuffs for the time being. \nBut as a long term relief, tooth extraction is definitly the option to go for.. Wish you get well soon!
686729
By chemically blocking pain receptors
372815
i've had TMD for 5 yrs now. tried a million things-massage ,physiotherapy,splints, cortisone shots on the joint, tons of painkillers,antidepressants, block treatment, u name it. ive just arrived in calgary,canada to try what they call neuromuscular dentistry. this coupled with a NUCCA chiropractor ,they say ,will work. my severe headaches, blocked ears,puffy eyes, stiff neck ,frozen shoulders, aching back,tingling limbs ,terrible anxiety and chronic fatigue have literraly CRIPPLED ME.all the best to you my friend... i truly hope you do not get to my stage. god bless you.
35870
painless!  i dont think thats possible i wish it would.i feel pain whatever my dentist do  :(
421757
Pain is a fairly universal defense mechanism of life forms. It is nothing but the message (along neural cells) to the rest of the body (or at least the closest node in the nervous system) that something is wrong, so that the body can react by sending repair and defence agents. \n\nFish are vertebrates, and all vertebrates have a brain which coordinates most of their bodily functions. Mammals aren't that different from fish in this regard. Fish have more different sensory organs than mammals, all of which are coordinated in the brain.\n\nThere are also autonomous neural systems in vertebrate bodies. The intestines are a complex, self-regulating neural system with only little communication with the brain.\n\nIt is perfectly possible to make a fish "drunk" (i.e. reduce coordination of neural activity) by exposing it to chemicals. What levels of alcohol are required for it to act as a neurotoxic substance may differ from air-breathers, since the respiratory organs may be a better conductor for alcohol into the blood than the intestinal organs. Or in other words, think of inhalable alcohol.
1045897
Headaches have a wide variety of causes, ranging from eyestrain, sinusitis and tension to life-threatening conditions such as encephalitis, meningitis, cerebral aneurysms and brain tumors. When the headache occurs in conjunction with a head injury the cause is usually quite evident; however, many causes are more unclear. The most common type of headache is a tension headache. Some experience headaches when dehydrated; caffeine withdrawal is another common cause.\n\nTension Headaches:\n\nThe exact cause of tension headaches is still unknown. It has long been believed that they are caused by muscle tension around the head and neck. Although muscle tension may be involved, there are many forms of tension headaches and some scientists now believe there is not one single cause for this type of headache. One of the theories is that the pain may be caused by a malfunctioning pain filter which is located in the brain stem. The view is that the brain misinterprets information, for example from the temporal muscle or other muscles, and interprets this signal as pain. One of the main molecules which is probably involved is serotonin. Evidence for this theory comes from the fact that tension headaches may be successfully treated with certain antidepressants. Another theory says that the main cause for tension type headaches and migraine is teeth clenching which causes a chronic contraction of the temporalis muscle. Patients with chronic tension-type headache have increased muscle and skin pain sensitivity, demonstrated by low mechanical, thermal and electrical pain thresholds. Hyperexitability of central nociceptive neurons (in trigeminal spinal nucleus, thalamus, and cerebral cortex) is believed to be involved in the pathophysiology of chronic tension-type headache.
794341
Yes- you got the right idea about the pain- picture having a severe migraine that light, sound and the smell of food makes you puke then add the pain of about 10 teeth that need root canals and put that pain -- well you know where, and oh, think about the pain you would feel if you were kicked in the cahones but kept getting kicked every 4,3,2,1 minute intervals for over say, anywhere from 4-24 hours-- that would equal the pain.
462432
The sympathetic nerves arise in the brain in the reticular formation, a diffuse set of nuclei (cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord) and send axons (bioelectrical transmission lines) the the lateral horn of the spinal cord.  The reticular formation receives incoming pain signals as well as higher input from the hypothalamus, cortex and elsewhere.  The axons descending to the lateral horn snynape (form chemical connections that communicate with the next neuron by chemicals known as neurotransmitters) with the cell bodies of motor neurons.  These motor neurons send myelinated (myelin is a biological insulator) axons to the ganglia (collections of cell bodies outside the brain and spinal cord) for the sympathetic nervous system.  These ganglia include a long chain that entends from the cervical to the lumbar regions, plus other ganglia in the head and adbominal cavity.  This synapse typically releases the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, which acts on nicotinic type "N" receptors - nicotinic-ganglionic receptors.   Nicotinic "N' receptors are distinguished from nicotinic "M" receptors (the neuromuscular junction) that serve skeletal muscle by differing responsiveness to pharmacological agents.  The post-synaptic (cell that receives the chemical signal) neurons are not mylenated and project to the visceral organs, skin, and blood vessels where they release neurotransmitters (norepinephrine or, in the case of skin, acetylcholine) that act on the effector organs.
872846
welllll, i don't specialize in neck or head aches per se, tho' they can both certainly be caused by tooth ache...\n\nHere's the deal - The dentist removed the nerve of the tooth, so IT doesn't hurt anymore, however, prior to doing so, it's possible the dead infected nerve may have caused an abcess at the base of the root.  The swelling and infection therein (think expanding object in contricted space) is what MAY have initially caused the other pain and aches.    That infection will resolve subsequent to the removal of its source, but you could certainly still have soreness.\n\nI'd personally recommend 400-600mg of ibuprofen every 4-6 hrs.\n\ngood luck!
780691
Hi Toothache try Anne Brownie at 6 Lorne Street Glasgow G51 1DP Telephone 0141 4270942 and speak to her your self she also offers a mobile Reflexology service 10 - 15 limes radius of Glasgow. Try emailing her at info@alternativetherapyglasgow.com for full details map and prices etc., Hopefully you can get the tooth pain sorted soon.
1041055
Reflexes and pain travel on different neuronal pathways. Reflexes involve motor nerves and pain involves sensory nerves. Pain receptors, also known as nociceptors, depend on where the injury occured. Nociceptors are in your skin. If you have an internal injury, you won't feel pain.
373342
THAT'S BRAIN FREEZE.Thats a reaction  triggered by the cold food etc coming into contact with the roof of your mouth. It irritates nerves in the region causing them to spasm. These nerves cause the blood vessels in the brain to dilate. When vessels in the brain dilate, u get a headache. Putting your tongue to the roof of your mouth  can help the pain or drink room temp water.