Iritis and possible Trigeminal Neuralgia
Posted: Sun Jul 08, 2012 2:31 pm
I was diagnosed with Iritis a few years ago, with very "angry" eye for the first year and a half or so. During that time I had a very occasional excrutiating ear pain, which has since taken over (with no angry eye for about a year) with the ear pain getting worse in frequency ( about twice a week like clockwork), duration, and strength. I have been seeng a Rheumy, and had almost all tests (with exception to an xray to rule out sarcoidosis, which is scheduled soon) being negative (except for heel spurs, lol). The Rheumy was concerned about possible relapsing polychondritis (which I just recently found out that my estranged mother is being treated for with lupus), but I only have the pain with no redness or swelling. In the last month and a half, a new symptom has appeared, where the right side of my mouth goes numb (which has happened about 6 times). I told my Rheumy that I have also realized that if I press on the main trigeminal area by my ear, it triggers the horrible pain in my ear. My Rheumy explained that was part of the trigeminal nerve and referred me to a Neurologist(physicians assistant). After describing the pain/symptoms to the Neuro, he said he was 99% sure it was trigeminal neuralgia. He wants me to try lyrica to see if the condition gets any better, which I will do after I keep a detailed log on pain etc to reference. He said he does not know of a condition that could cause both trigeminal neuralgia and iritis but he will meet with the other doctors to discuss and made me an appt with the head neuro in the office. But in the meantime, I will do what the rheumy told me to doand just wait for new symptoms for the "black cloud" mystery disease that they keep telling me is causing all of this mess in me. If anyone, or Mike, has any thoughts on any correlation between the two diseases (if I in fact have them both) please let me know. By the way, I am a 38 year old mother of 4 teenagers and have been pretty healthy otherwise, with exception to seizures starting at 17 which they thought was a result from a car accident about 6 months prior 9 at the time MRI showed 2 lesions). I have been seizure free for quite a few years, with no meds in about 15 years, I stay away from flashing lights and watching trains go by which seem to trigger them.