More recently I've had mild intermittent left face numbness and a few episodes of left face spasms (severe enuf that they contort my face). Had to take Valium to resolve X 1 episode.
I have a history of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) on the right side. Have had for 20 yrs.
Neuro thinks this is now TN on the left side. Bilateral TN is rare, there is no pain only the above symptoms on the left, and I don't want to believe him. Wondered if anyone else had insights about this?
Wow, I have a friend with TN and it is very painful for her.
Sorry! You have a double whammy!☹️
~Hugs~ erash I don't know anything about it, but am sorry your going through this 😞 My thoughts are with you.💕🌠
Jesmcd2 thank you but I'm really doing well just weird MS symptoms that pop up and I'm often unsure whether they need attn. or just blow them off and go on living a beautiful life 😊
I've had TN on the left side of my face since 2012. Last year, one of my relapses was accompanied by spasms and numbness on the right😳. Not nearly as severe as the left side, but still concerning. Visited a neuro who specializes in migraines and face pain. She said that bilateral TN is rare but she has seen in it MS patients a lot😤. Lucky us.... Good luck erash. I hope this passes quickly!
erash I was experiencing hemi facial spasms on the left side of my face. My face would become contorted and my speech a little slurred at times, not always. It doesn't hurt at all. The neurologist didn't think it was part of my MS, but more psychological.
Thanks! Morllyn
Currently my TN is controlled with Tegretol and I ? Neuro's conclusion. I do think related to MS but think it's the 7th not 5th cranial nerve that's involved.
erash So sorry that this has developed from the intermittent numbness to the spasms, which I have never had. Glad you called the neuro and that the valium worked.
Erash, I used to suffer from TN but I had the disc taken out of my neck. But 3 years ago I went numb on the opposite side, the left and when I went to the docs he said it was a Bells Palsy, it has left me slightly lop sided, everyone thought I had had a stroke. Don't know if they are related or not, just thought I would share, blessings Jimeka
jimeka bells palsy involves the facial nerve or seventh cranial nerve. I think that my seventh nerve is what's involved here and not the fifth which is what is related to trigeminal. But who am I to argue with my neurologist (shrug).
Bells palsy does have motor involvement (facial droop). This is just numbness that Isnt associated with the facial spasms. Everything I'm reading says seventh nerve and that this is fairly common with MS 🙁
Oh well...😊😊😊
Blessings to you too!
P.s. I'm reading that both the 5th and 7th r often affected simultaneously because of a blood vessel compression, or perhaps because of an MS lesion? Although I'd suspect that would be on 1 side.
Sorry, I have a tendency to medicalize everything 🤓
No problem, you teach me something new all the time. I can impress my sister when I talk with her. Lol 😂
Hello erase lately I've been having TN on the right side of my face horrible pain for about 10 seconds. It happens about 4 times a week. It's horrible pain!
Jbahnan so sorry for your pain, truly! have you sought treatment?
Tegretol does help me. Not sure gamma knife made much difference.
I attended a TN support group last nite (1st time they had one in my area). Personal stories and the neuro surgeons discussion @ available treatments (few with efficacy for MS) risks, benefits, was unfortunately depressing 🙁
So sorry you are experiencing this awful feeling on both sides of your face. I am experiencing some of it on right side. I'm not sure where you live but if you are not comfortable with your doc's conclusion, talk to another doctor. In the meantime hang in there and keep the faith!!
This happens to my husband when (this is going to sound crazy) his blood pressure is very high. I see the spasms and check his bp and it's high. Now he does have hBP all the time but when it gets really high he has facial spasms. His chin spasms
erase, g'day this fine whatever day it is for u. Bilateral TN, hmm I wonder about that. Ask your neuro about bells palsy or something similar. Bilateral TN is no fun but, hey it'ss ms expect the unexpected 
My thinking is no pain, likely not TN, as a lucky bilateral TN person let me assure u PAIN IS involved, & lots of it. Ask neur about other possibilities if spasms persist. keep me informed, I am sure it will be interesting. Royce 3 laser surgeries and counting
Hi RoyceNewton Nah...I don't think it's TN either. No facial droop so unlikely Bell's too. Just one of those MS things. I'm not pursuing it further or they will just want to throw me on more drugs--no thank you
When my neurosurgeon did my Rhizotomy he said Bells Palsy was a possible side effect. (I excaped, NO PALSY)
Hello Erash,
I know this was 3 years ago, but I have almost the exact same thing. Did this ever develop into TN?
Thank you for the response. What I meant was, did the spasms on the left side of your face develop into TN?
BilateralTN rare, damn I am rare.
So sorry 😢
hey no biggie life happens, bet I do not say that next time my face explodes
Potassium’s use and Trigeminal Neuralgia Events
gabapentin 600 mg for sudden twinges of possible trigeminal neuralgia (tgn) but mouth has gone ok, stupid me. not ALL GONE
