Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has had toothache, earache and pain in side of head due to fibromyalgia,if so what painkillers are you using? I've only paracetamol which is useless, and can't use ibuprofen etc because of the steroids, suppose need to see the doctor but have to wait ages to see one,any info will be grateful,many thanks 💙
Fibro and toothache: Hi everyone, just wondering if... - PMRGCAuk
Fibro and toothache
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JKlady
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Hi, do you have pmr as well as fibromyalgia? You can buy paracetamol and codeine( cocodamol) over the counter which may help. Are you sure it is due to your fibromyalgia? If you are not sure of its cause you really should see your gp. YBB
Hi YBB,thanks for replying, I've not been diagnosed with pmr only fibro,will go to the pharmacy and enquire,and make a appointment with gp,my dentist said it was the fibro because of the traveling pain up side of face! My tooth was slightly throbbing the other night,would fibro do that?must admit I'm not totally convinced it is this. Jklady
I dont have fibro so not sure if that can cause you pain. I will pm poopadoop and dorsetlady who will be able to help.you more.YBB
Thank you YBB
can also check jaw for TMJ, I have fibro but have been having jaw, ear, tooth pain along with constant headaches I also believe I have PMR but sed rate had slight increase or was normal when tested so MD was on the fence about it but all the symptoms are there, anyway long story short I thought the pain in tooth, ear etc. was fibro but MRI proved different it is TMJ deterioration in joint of my jaw. Good luck I hope you find out what it is
If it after investigation it turns out not to be PMR pain , but is PMR like , you can be having something called , " Coathanger Syndrome" .
This is chronic pain in the back of the skull , neck and shoulders and across the upper back , basically in a Coathanger shape that comes from the TMJ or another Head Condition causing you to tense up the muscles causing stiffness and nerve pain.
Using Paracetamol and Relaxation and rotation Exercises , Heat pads , Deep Breathing , raising your shoulders on a pillow not just your head while you sleep , and learning to relax your jaw , shoulders and neck when you feel yourself tense to a trigger all help reduce the problem.
Adding more Magnesium , Vitamin D and Omega 3 in your diet by food or supplements also reduces the pain and stiffness.
I have Fibro so I know that the Syndrome causes all Pain to be more intense because it comes from a hypersensitivity reaction of the small nerve fibres.
Just wondering if you haven't been diagnosed with PMR , if you don't mind adding some more details , what are you taking steroids for ?
Have you been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia or was that just the Dentist's intial opinion?
Basically you need to treat the cause of the Pain to reduce the Fibro Flare. If you Dentist didn't find any dental issues and just stated it was Fibro that's one cause ticked off the list and you need a,GP.
If you needed Dental Work , to reduce the Flare it will have to be done , although the Pain is high during and just after treatment.
If teeth are ruled out you need to see the GP and have your ears checked for signs of infection or swelling . If there isn't any and you have widespread Pain in the lower head you need your inflammatory markers done to rule out infections , GCA PMR etc.
It's then a request for a reference to either ENT or Neurology , as it could be a Mechanical issue or a form of Neuralgia made worse by Fibro , or Fibromyalgia alone.
The GP , no matter which thing is happening in the meantime can prescribe you a drug like Garbepentin or Carbemazepine or a low dose opioid like Tramadol to reduce the level of Pain .
Fibromyalgia Treatment usually involves some form if nerve medication and most sufferers are on something as well as Paracetamol to reduce the Pain after they are diagnosed with it.
You also need to look for any " triggers" in things you do that cause sharp increases in Pain and avoid them .
In the lower face and head , things like icy drinks , cold wind , very chewy or hard foods , cleaning your teeth vigorously , brushing hair too hard or putting it in tight bobbles and clips , wearing heavy earrings or headphones , loud music and sounds that make you tense your face , tooth decay or gingivitis , and not cushioning your head properly at night can all be " triggers" and need adapting to stop the Pain coming back or reduce it.
Until you see a GP , to find the cause , get medication , or increase the dose of any Fibro medication you are on , only warmth , relaxation of your head and Paracetamol will help ( or Codiene when it is severe for short periods only if you are tolerant) .
GCA came to my mind too. Probably not but needs to get it checked out.
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Hi,
Can’t help on the Fibro front I’m afraid. If you can’t into see GP - any chance of speaking to pharmacist - they probably have as much idea about what you can and can’t take, medication wise.
Or maybe post the question on the Fibro forum -
PMRproAmbassador
I'm a tad confused - if you have a diagnosis of fibro rather than PMR, why are you on steroids? I also have to say - I have never heard anyone with fibro say facial pain was due to it. But I am happy to be proven wrong.
Do you have any other discomfort with the facial pain? When chewing for example, that goes away when you stop? Any other pain in your head? What is your fibro pain like? And have you had blood tests done?
I just asked that too above you got to rule everything out before you can say it is only the Fibromyalgia causing the Pain.
Head , Jaw and Face are some of the " Pain Points" of Fibromyalgia .
The Face Pain is like suffering from a TMJ issue, toothache, forehead migraine or Trigeminal Neuralgia.
If you have the other Health issues the Fibro makes them worse. If you have had the other conditions ruled out it is just the Fibromyalgia affecting the small fibre nerves in the Face or Scalp.
Pardon the pun , that is the " pain in the neck" with Fibromyalgia , you have small fibre nerves everywhere , so anywhere can be affected.
It doesn't 'alf cause a vicious circle of Flares with the GCA/ PMR as well if it's not being treated properly at the same time.
It's like having two noisy toddlers in your body competing to get your attention!😣😣😣😣😢😘😘😍
Don't even go there!!!!! I'm off toddlers this week - every time we've been food shopping there have been screamy ones ...
You see , I love a good toddler , I just can't eat a whole one !😋😂😂😂😘😍
in reply to Blearyeyed
It so is....not only noisy but throwing gigantic tantrums....
Blearyeyed in reply to
Yeah , and throwing all of their toys around , screaming like Drunken Banshees and leaving tiny pieces of Lego in your path for you to stub your toe on later!😣😂😂😂😘
Stubbed toes is minimal agony compared to standing on a brick ...
And don't even get me started on glittery beads and stickle bricks!!!😋😂😂😂
Youve been told before to stop having tantrums in tescos
I know , but I do love it when I lie on the ground and I have to be dragged out by my ankles in disgrace by the OH!!😋😂😂😂😂😂😂
Especially when hes being watched by half of his students!!
in reply to PMRpro
Face pain is a definite fibro symptom for me and really was the final straw that got me to the pain clinic years ago. Like other things it flares. My tooth pain arose as part of that but when you are hypersensitive and the brain is in a constant state of alarm. I started to grind my teeth and caused damsge as you know from my 3 1/2 hours in the dentist's chair this morning.
Blearyeyed in reply to
Ditto!
It was when the pain hit my Face that I had to get help.
I was Diagnosed with Occipital and Trigeminal Neuralgia first , but had the on going pain symptoms elsewhere too so it is only in the last year that they have joined the dots and recognised that I had progressed to having Fibromyalgia as well.
All caused by the lovely Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and Hypermobility , but at least my Mother can't say that when I decide to do a thing I don't put my heart and soul into it , even in collecting Chronic illnesses!!😋😂😂😂😂😘
You could open a museum all on your own ...
Is that a not so subtle way of saying I'm beyond help or just past it !!!😋😂😂😂😂😘
You have been beyond help for ages and that has nothing to do with your physical illnesses!!
Shes just greedy! She has to have everything!! Shes like one of those toddlers!!
Spot on !!😋😂😂😂😂😂🙇🙅🙅🙅🙆🏄💃💃🙌🙌🙌
This is where i will get people messaging to say i am being horrible to you!!
It can't be horrible when it's true !
As Dick Emery used to say , " You are awful but I like you!" 😋😘😘😘
Hi just wrote you a long message then lost it!!!spoke to the dentist and found he had the wrong tooth so back on Monday to sort,but for your info I had toothache, earache all which sent pains up to my head on the right side,he said that's because of the trigeminal nerve,because the tooth he examined was okay he said it was the fibro and I thought it was until it started throbbing last night, which to me seemed like real toothache,hope this makes sense, probably boring you, steroids for the fibromyalgia I also have R A😬
If it is Trigeminal Neuralgia and it hasn't been diagnosed by the Doctor yet you do need to get to the GP to get it on your records and get some adjustment to your treatment.
Steroids don't always work for Nerve / Neuralgia issues or Fibromyalgia as the Pain comes from different origins.
If you are already on some form of Nerve Medication for Fibro then this could be changed or increased to improve TN Pain if it isn't just being triggered by a Dental Issue.
If you aren't getting any nerve specific medications for Fibro it might be time to discuss getting this help now , Fibro sufferers on here know , that Steroids alone don't treat both Fibro and PMR, GCA or RA . A combination of drugs is required.
in reply to JKlady
I often wake up with moderate to severe pain in a couple of teeth. I have had them checked and x-rayed and there is nothing. For 2 days it can be debilitating then the next day it's like nothing has been there. I have used orajel with a degree of success and a warm flannel on my face. It does throb into my right ear. Are the sensations ok on the cheek/chin? I have a bit if a numb feeling to the touch,but it's very painful at the same time. Hope it eases. Just remember to keep our mouth slightly open so you aren't clenching.
Dear JFlady,
I am sorry to say that the symptoms you have are some of the symptoms of GCA. I hope I am wrong, and am in no position to diagnose you. Are you sure about the Fibromyalgia? Could that pain have been from PMR? Where have you been feeling the pain?
The medication recommended is a good start; paracetamol with codeine. But is fibromyalgia typically treated with steroids? If you have a caring doctor, you might ask for Tramadol , another good pain killer. In the long run, it can be addicting so you must be careful with it, and do need a prescription for it. Or you simply may need to be on a higher dose of steroids.
It's hard to respond b/c we don't know your history, or length of illness, your dose of steroids, etc. If you fill us in, we may be able to help more.
My teeth have been difficult. I started waking with terrible nerve pain in all of them. They felt "on fire."
Went to see my dentist first. Found a cracked tooth below the gumline and ended up with an implant.
Next, still over all pain. The dentist replaced two crowns that had decayed underneath.
Nope. The overall nerve pain in my teeth kept waking me and chewing became painful.
Called my Rheumatologist and she added 100mg imuran to my 10mg prednisone. Within 3 days no mouth pain, no jaw pain, no dizzy spells (I have suffered dizzy spells for 2.5 years). I wasn't diagnosed with GCA, but things might have been headed that way.
My dr will not consider pred reduction and told me to inch up if I feel it is necessary. She also will increase the imuran if needed.
She is such a support, totally understanding PMR. I could not be more grateful. Teeth can be an indicator of other issues, so I learned. My goal, wellness...someday.
Hope you get relief. This journey can be difficult to navigate.
MariGrace
( My dr said I do have Fibro, too, but I take no other meds for it.
Too many meds now for other issues (blood, heart, etc.. enough.)
If you are unable to see your doctor see if you are able to make appt with a nurse or paramedic.
Failing that, go into your local pharmacy and ask for a private chat with a pharmacist
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