sharp pains in face

kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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Recently I have been getting a sharp prickling even a stabbing feeling in my cheek and jaw. It only lasts seconds and goes away as quickly as it appears. I also get it in my left breast but not usually at the same time. I have googled it, and as is usual, it comes up with numerous causes. I will go to the doctor next week if I am lucky to get an appointment but has anyone here experienced a similar thing?

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  • Nesta RobbinsNesta Robbins Posts: 30,604
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    kiteflyer wrote: »
    Recently I have been getting a sharp prickling even a stabbing feeling in my cheek and jaw. It only lasts seconds and goes away as quickly as it appears. I also get it in my left breast but not usually at the same time. I have googled it, and as is usual, it comes up with numerous causes. I will go to the doctor next week if I am lucky to get an appointment but has anyone here experienced a similar thing?

    Shingles comes to mind, mine were around my back and breast bone, but it can occur in the face. I hope not though OP, it's very painful. If so, you would be beginning a rash by now and the sharp nerve pains are neuralgia. I hope the doctor can put your mind at rest.
  • ShappyShappy Posts: 14,531
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  • MutterMutter Posts: 3,269
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    kiteflyer wrote: »
    Recently I have been getting a sharp prickling even a stabbing feeling in my cheek and jaw. It only lasts seconds and goes away as quickly as it appears. I also get it in my left breast but not usually at the same time. I have googled it, and as is usual, it comes up with numerous causes. I will go to the doctor next week if I am lucky to get an appointment but has anyone here experienced a similar thing?
    Ridiculous that "lucky to get an appointment". Shouldn't be any luck involved, but need.
    Please come back and tell us how you got on.
  • SJ_MentalSJ_Mental Posts: 16,138
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    Mutter wrote: »
    Ridiculous that "lucky to get an appointment". Shouldn't be any luck involved

    My doctors are similar, I had xrays in october due to constant pain in my hip, Haven't been able to get an appointment since, "There are doctors on holiday call back on tuesday or friday for an emergency appointment" I get fobbed off again and told to phone back the next tuesday or friday, Still in pain :(
  • Terry WigonTerry Wigon Posts: 6,831
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    Maybe it's trigeminal neuralgia - excruciating stabbing pains and it's often misdiagnosed by doctors. Worth mentioning it to them. I read up on it when I was getting strange numbness in my face and later on I had a pain in my jaw. I had to have a root canal on one of my back molars which appeared healthy on an X-ray as the pain was excrutaiting.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigeminal_neuralgia
  • MutterMutter Posts: 3,269
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    Maybe it's trigeminal neuralgia - excruciating stabbing pains and it's often misdiagnosed by doctors. I read up on it when I was getting strange numbness in my face. Worth mentioning it to them.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigeminal_neuralgia
    I haven't looked at your link yet Terry, but there are numerous conditions brought about by sudden cold. Worse could be done OP than simply wearing a warm scarf around your face and neck.
  • PuckyPucky Posts: 4,505
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    I got Bell's Palsy after an ear infection/shingles. It doesn't always start with pain. It could be neuralgia or it could just be muscular. Do you gring your teeth? I used to and got sharp cramp-like pains in my jaw - it was like cramp and toothache with earache all in one and was agony!!
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    Maybe it's trigeminal neuralgia - excruciating stabbing pains and it's often misdiagnosed by doctors. Worth mentioning it to them. I read up on it when I was getting strange numbness in my face and later on I had a pain in my jaw. I had to have a root canal on one of my back molars which appeared healthy on an X-ray as the pain was excrutaiting.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigeminal_neuralgia

    I am thinking it could be that. It is really painful and the way it just comes from nowhere and then stops as quickly as it starts is quite scary.
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    Pucky wrote: »
    I got Bell's Palsy after an ear infection/shingles. It doesn't always start with pain. It could be neuralgia or it could just be muscular. Do you gring your teeth? I used to and got sharp cramp-like pains in my jaw - it was like cramp and toothache with earache all in one and was agony!!

    Its not a muscular pain, more like loads of needles stabbing my face etc. I have had shingles before but it was across my stomach and nowhere else.
  • Terry WigonTerry Wigon Posts: 6,831
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    kiteflyer wrote: »
    I am thinking it could be that. It is really painful and the way it just comes from nowhere and then stops as quickly as it starts is quite scary.

    And as 'Mutter' said, cold can be a trigger for trigeminal neuralgia - although not in everyone - it's something to do with constriction on the nerve which could be due to a number of variables. A relative of mine had it and he said it took years to get diagnosed in the 1980s. He said it drove him to distraction. Poor guy!

    Hope you find an answer, OP, and some relief! :)
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    Mutter wrote: »
    Ridiculous that "lucky to get an appointment". Shouldn't be any luck involved, but need.
    Please come back and tell us how you got on.

    My doctor's surgery will only give out appointments with 7 days notice unless it is an emergency. With the new year holiday next week I am not confident of an appointment before 6th january. I can't see this being classed as an emergency unless my head is just about to fall off lol
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    And as 'Mutter' said, cold can be a trigger for trigeminal neuralgia - although not in everyone - it's something to do with constriction on the nerve which could be due to a number of variables. A relative of mine had it and he said it took years to get diagnosed in the 1980s. He said it drove him to distraction. Poor guy!

    Hope you find an answer, OP, and some relief! :)

    Thanks. I hope so too. I have had a couple of episodes of it today. :(
  • Rose BuddRose Budd Posts: 4,178
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    OP, are you on any medication and missed a few? This happens to me sometimes although it is bad 'shooting pains' in my head - like an electric shock.

    I am sorry you have to wait so long for an appointment, my own surgery you ring up at 8.30 and are usually seen that day. If it is an emergency they will always fit you in.

    Any walk in centres in your area? If you are really worried - A&E?
  • Judge MentalJudge Mental Posts: 18,593
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    Rose Budd wrote: »
    OP, are you on any medication and missed a few? This happens to me sometimes although it is bad 'shooting pains' in my head - like an electric shock.

    I am sorry you have to wait so long for an appointment, my own surgery you ring up at 8.30 and are usually seen that day. If it is an emergency they will always fit you in.

    Any walk in centres in your area? If you are really worried - A&E?

    It's not an emergency. This is a GP issue.
  • MartinPickeringMartinPickering Posts: 3,711
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    Drinking wine sometimes causes sharp pains in my jaw muscles. Just a thought; time of year.
  • bri160356bri160356 Posts: 5,147
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    kiteflyer wrote: »
    Recently I have been getting a sharp prickling even a stabbing feeling in my cheek and jaw. It only lasts seconds and goes away as quickly as it appears. I also get it in my left breast but not usually at the same time. I have googled it, and as is usual, it comes up with numerous causes. I will go to the doctor next week if I am lucky to get an appointment but has anyone here experienced a similar thing?

    OP,

    Any pain/infection/disease from your neck upward should be treated as a potentially serious problem until it is found to be otherwise.

    That info was told to me by a very eminent Ophthalmic surgeon when I’d had a serious & life threatening disease in my sinus & lacrimal sac (it’s at the top of the nose below the eye).

    Scary times for me, but strangely enough there was no pain associated with it whatsoever.

    Your problem could be very simple but because of its location i.e. near your brain, you need to get it assessed by a Professional, sooner rather than later.

    There is little value in guessing.

    Don’t wait a week for your GP.

    Go to your nearest NHS Walk-in Health centre asap; you will be quickly assessed and then directed to an appropriate Doctor/Specialist as necessary. The Walk-in centres are not just for emergencies.

    Find your nearest centre here:

    http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNH...esSummary.aspx

    I wish you well.
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    bri160356 wrote: »
    OP,

    Any pain/infection/disease from your neck upward should be treated as a potentially serious problem until it is found to be otherwise.

    That info was told to me by a very eminent Ophthalmic surgeon when I’d had a serious & life threatening disease in my sinus & lacrimal sac (it’s at the top of the nose below the eye).

    Scary times for me, but strangely enough there was no pain associated with it whatsoever.

    Your problem could be very simple but because of its location i.e. near your brain, you need to get it assessed by a Professional, sooner rather than later.

    There is little value in guessing.

    Don’t wait a week for your GP.

    Go to your nearest NHS Walk-in Health centre asap; you will be quickly assessed and then directed to an appropriate Doctor/Specialist as necessary. The Walk-in centres are not just for emergencies.

    Find your nearest centre here:

    http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNH...esSummary.aspx

    I wish you well.

    Thanks for your reply. We don't have any walk in centres here. I live in scotland. Its by appointment only via phoning out of hours telephone service. My surgery opens tomorrow morning so will give them a ring then. I think it may be some kind of nerve damage . I hope that's all it is.
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    Drinking wine sometimes causes sharp pains in my jaw muscles. Just a thought; time of year.

    I don't drink alcohol, mind you there are times I wish I did ! ;-)
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    Rose Budd wrote: »
    OP, are you on any medication and missed a few? This happens to me sometimes although it is bad 'shooting pains' in my head - like an electric shock.

    I am sorry you have to wait so long for an appointment, my own surgery you ring up at 8.30 and are usually seen that day. If it is an emergency they will always fit you in.

    Any walk in centres in your area? If you are really worried - A&E?

    No, nothing other than acid reflux pills although I know what you are talking about. I experienced the same thing about ten years ago when I was on an anti-depressant. As you described it was like electric shocks in your head. Horrible.
  • Butterfly8588Butterfly8588 Posts: 701
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    hi there,
    I've had bells palsy and it generally starts as a pain behind your left ear before facial numbness and then the droop. I have to admit by your title I was thinking trigeminal neuralgia but it was thought i had this so I know quite a bit about it and I don't recall anything about pain in the chest area? I dont know everything though obviously and it might be pain displacement.
    I dont know a thing about shingles though so I cant advise on that. I do hope you feel better soon, pain of anykind is awful.

    take care and keep warm xxx
  • ShappyShappy Posts: 14,531
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    kiteflyer, have you had a chance to see a doctor yet?
  • kiteflyerkiteflyer Posts: 1,675
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    Shappy wrote: »
    kiteflyer, have you had a chance to see a doctor yet?

    Thanks for asking. My appointment is this coming Tuesday. As is usual, I have had no more jaggy needle episodes in the last couple of days. Typical but I will still get it checked out.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 6,279
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    Unlikely to be trigeminal neuralgia, OP. I'm not a doctor, so I could of course be wrong, but the trigeminal nerve doesn't extend to the breast.

    I do have it, though I'm in remission - for anyone reading this who has it, one each of 500/30 mg Cocodamol and 500 mg Paracetamol seems to work very well. (You'll need a script.)
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