How to manage sharp pain on the left side of the face?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 27 year old male in good physical shape, doing workouts every day. My weight is 198.41 lb and my height is 5.58 ft. About four months ago, I started to feel a sharp pain on the left side of my face, above my left eye when I swallow liquids. The pain is not intense, but rather I feel like there is an irritated nerve. It lasts only a second, while I am swallowing the liquid and then there is no pain at all. After a while, I noticed that the pain activates when I kiss someone (creating a vacuum with my mouth). Last night, I triggered the nerve pain while I was cleaning my left ear with a cotton bud. The pain has neither gotten worse nor better in these four months. I consulted a neurologist and he did all the tests, like neuro test, 64-slice computer scan. There was nothing wrong with them. Then, I was at the otorhinolaryngologist and he checked my ears, nose, and throat. There was nothing wrong with them too. My neurologist wrote me Lyrica, but after three days, my head was spinning, and I felt bad. So, I cut it off. I am without any medications for two months now. The pain was still there while I was taking Lyrica.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understand your concerns. Firstly, I feel your neurologist was right to prescribe you Lyrica (Pregabalin) although it did not help you in gaining control over the pain. Secondly, finding the etiology of a sharp pain over the left eye is quite impossible with the available history. This is because the areas are supplied by very different nerves. For example ears and throat both have no relation to the lips and the area above the eyes when it comes to nerve supply. Thirdly, the only explanation for your experience is an irritation of the trigeminal nerve and testing for the trigeminal nerve is recommended if not done already. Fourthly, I feel a low-dose TCA (tricyclic antidepressants) can be used on a trial basis for both diagnosis and treatment. I hope this answers your query. Feel free to contact me if you have more questions.