So, a few weeks ago I made my first post about the possibility of my having TMJ. Thursday night I had a terrible, terrible headache and during it I noticed one of my teeth was sending me lightning signals to my brain. Has anyone had any experience with dental problems such as abscessed teeth? Now that it has come to my attention I'm wondering whether or not it's possible I have an infected tooth that's been bothering me all this time. My headaches only started about a year and a half ago and every time I get one, it's most centralized in my mouth and jaw and then my temple... it's like it skips the portion of my face around my eye. I haven't been to a dentist in years; I have an appointment coming up now because of this. Having a dental problem would not explain certain facets of my headaches such as sporadically responding to triptans and not really responding to NSAIDs as a toothache might, but I'm just curious if anyone has had any experience with any painful dental problems such as abscesses or fractures (I have terrible bruxism) that maybe made their headaches worse. I still have an appointment with Thomas Jefferson in about three weeks and will continue to pursue my pain under the assumption that it is some kind of headache disorder but I'm very curious as to how my appointment with the dentist turns out...

One of the sad parts of our condition is unknowledgable Dr.s   I have spoken to many folks who have had ALL of their teeth pulled and the reason isn't because of tooth decay.  It's because the pain of CH travels down into the teeth.   I've always said it feels like someone is pounding a nail into every single one of my teeth on the affected side.

A dentist who would pull perfectly healthy teeth is despicable.

Learn all you can about this condition in the 3 weeks before your appt. with Jefferson and if that dentist tells you you need to have teeth pulled PLEASE get a 2nd opinion or at least look at the x-rays he takes and tell him you want him to explain exactly what is wrong with your teeth.

Good luck to you.

What Linda said. The trigeminal nerve runs along the jaw line, I've chipped teeth so bad they had to be repaired, grinding my teeth together during an attack. Obviously, follow thru with your dental to make sure there is no issue, but be cautious if he talks about pulling teeth. At least get one more opinion before you go that route.

Keep studying CH. Learn all you can, educated patients get faster diagnosis and hurt less in the long run.

Joe

Hi Zac
Thirteen years ago when I first got CH & didn't know what it was a now very rich dentist said he could fix my problem.
Six thousand dollars & several teeth less I still have CH.

As Linda said get the Dentist to explain fully any work they are suggesting.

Cheers
Barry

So many of us here, when in our earlier stages of CH, have gone and had teeth yanked, mistakenly  thinking they could be the culprit (I rushed out and had my wisdom teeth pulled).

I'm not saying don't pursue the dental thing, just saying don't put all your hopes in finding a solution there.

I'm not really looking for all my answers there with the Dentist, just wondering if it's a facet. Also, just to clarify, while I know absolutely no one is being patronizing I would like to mention that even though I'm new here, I consider myself an extremely well informed patient in general and also know a pretty good amount about CH because that's what my first diagnosis was about a year and a half ago when my headahces started... and for an incredibly long time, I agreed with that diagnosis. (It's not that I disagree with it now, but I'm no longer as sure, especially since I've had four doctors give me three different diagnoses.) I mentioned in my other post that my current specialist is thinking it's Paroxysmal Hemicrania, but he's really not sure because my symptoms are so wildly volatile. I have been to see neurologists and two specialists and no one has been able to help for longer than a few weeks yet... I've quite literally nearly run out of different medications to try, so it'll be onto something else I suppose. (Anyone had Botox? That got mentioned more than once.)

I pleaded with my dentist to pull the teeth that I was sure were the problem...he showed me the x-rays...and REFUSED. A Prince of a man...HE was the one who diagnosed ch...because he researched and cared.

Best,

Jon

The track record for botox is rather thin re. effectiveness.

The following can be a bit scary at first reading but suggest that you print it out and ask your headache specialist if he might consider a reexamination of your diagnosis with this material in mind.


Link to: cluster-LIKE headache.

Section, "Medications, Treatments, Therapies --> "Important Topics" --> "Cluster-LIKE headache"

Thanks a lot for that link, very helpful. I have an appointment with a new GP coming up as well. My parents just had an appointment and loved him and he vowed to them to personally get to the bottom of my headaches. We'll see, but it's the thought that counts. I haven't been for a pure physical in a little while (not as long as the dentist, for sure) so I'm going to be glad to have someone back looking over my general health. The dentist I have an appointment with is new and highly recommended from friends as well, so I'm hoping he is respectable and professional enough to not do any unnecessary mouth work. I'm sure I have some sort of HA condition outside of a tooth problem but the primary reasons I was getting concerned that I may have a tooth problem as well are my generally less-than-outstanding oral hygiene, bitter taste and bad breath that comes back 10 minutes after even the most thorough brushing, a little extra sensitivity than I'm used to and minor difficulties chewing on that side (in terms of pain, but it's only occasional when eating). None of those things mean I absolutely have a tooth problem by any stretch of the imagination, I just wouldn't be shocked.

wrote on May 29^th, 2011 at 2:21pm:

........................ I would like to mention that even though I'm new here, I consider myself an extremely well informed patient in general and also know a pretty good amount about CH ...........................

Did I miss a reference to oxygen therapy trials?

If you have CH's, this should be your first line defense. Hyperventilating on 100% O2 at very, very high flow rates for a just a few minutes is a miracle for many people - but just as many haven't even bothered to try it. (You were given the this link in another thread, but didn't address it: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

No, it's not a cure.
No, it doesn't stop the next one from coming.

But, when applied PROPERLY (often along with a Triptan of your choice) it can most often avoid those ER visits -and it beats the heck out of Percocet and Dilaudid for fast aborts!

Marc

Pure oxygen does not help my headaches. While I don't and never have had my own tank, O2 is the first thing they do at the emergency room while they're getting anything else ready. About 6 months ago during a particularly bad attack I made them call my HA specialist's emergency number so he could tell them the proper amount of oxygen or any medication recommendation for my time there. Since then, they've had his recommended LPM in my file (though, to be fair, I don't know that number). Long story short, it has never worked and I've discussed this with my HA specialist and he basically feels that if it doesn't work in the ER he's not going to make me go through the aggravation of obtaining O2 tanks and equipment.

Sometimes CHs can be stubborn in resisting any attempt to mitigate them, but as you have said yourself, you only have a tentative diagnosis...you might be experiencing something else. If you are, it is no surprise standard CH therapies are not helping. Perhaps you and your doctor need to explore a different avenue? lance

Yes, right now he's really trying to treat Paroxysmal Hemicrania which, if that is the correct diagnosis, responds to different medications than CH do. That's why he had me on Indocin which is an NSAID but now I can't be taking any NSAIDs or medications with the possibility of causing internal bleeds... at least for a while. It's not a huge loss for now because the Indocin was really only marginally helpful.