I have just started taking gabapentin 300 mg 3 times a day for my tmj nerve pain.I have had 3 tmj surgeries and the third surgery resulted in chronic nerve damage to both of my tmj joints.I also take cymbalta and 25mg of neurotripiline but so far I have had no relief from my pain and I also have have chronic pain in my eardrums because of my tmj.It is just terrible and getting worse as I have had the tmj nerve damage for 34 years now.I was just wondering about how much of the gabepentin it might take to get some relief or if anyone here has tmj nerve pain or neurogical facial pain?Any suggestions would be helpful as the pain is just miserable.
thankyou, Marcie
I was wondering if anyone else here takes gabapentin for tmj nerve pain?
Question posted by marcie611 on 10 Feb 2013
Last updated on 21 July 2021 by Nisha89
Added 11 Feb 2013:
The label on the bottle of medicine is gabapentin and I am taking 300 mg 3 times a day which I mentioned does nothing.I am hoping I won,t have to go up to too high a dose because I have diabetes type one too and I need to be alert enough to check my blood sugars.I got late onset diabetes at age 50 and I am 58 now.It has complecated things having diabetes along with the chronic tmj.I have bad arthritis in my tmj too as a result of the tmj surgeries.I had bad tmj implants called vitek proplast implants back in the 1980,s and they were supposed to last a lifetime but 2 years latter they were found to be defective and I had 2 giant cell reactions and had to have all the tiny fragments removed twice in the last 2 surgeries.The pain has just increased through the years and I have been on so many medications trying to get relief.But unfortunately I have not found found a solution as I have to watch the side effects too.My doctor will be phoning me back soon and perhaps he will increase my dosage of the gabepentin.
Marcie
4 Answers
Nisha89
21 July 2021
Sorry to hear that your in so much pain. Have you tried Botox injections ?.
Pigshit6
17 Feb 2020
I have TN in my upper right face above teeth. I take carbamazepine, tegretol, 200 mg 3 times a day. It kicks that horrible pain
jjulli
26 April 2015
I am so sorry for your pain. TMJ is so irritating and mine started before people realized it is a joint disorder, thus treatment wasn't really there. I can't help but think the possibilities are there that your Dr. may try to adjust the gabapentin to a higher dose, and try this until you reach the dosage limits, and you know it takes a few weeks to reach the true results. I hope this helps. You sound like you know how to take care of monitoring your diabetes, getting one Dr. alongside your oral surgeon to monitor all your other health issues would be a good idea. I know that the ear canals are directly affected by the small space left from scarring of the surgeries you had and you may get ear infections quite easily too. I did. Keeping sinuses clear can reduce pain. too.
Greg_M_64
28 Nov 2016
I'm sorry you are experiencing so much pain. I have Trigeminal nerve damage and am in constant discomfort in my upper jaw. It affected my nerves and I'm on Zoloft for mild depression and Xanax for anxiety. I tried so many different drugs for nerve pain I honestly can't remember them all, some with horrible side effects. I then started started on a low dose of Neurontin (Gabapentin) 3-100 mg capsules a day, and have since increased it to 6-100mg at bedtime and 2-100mg morning and afternoon and it helped. I also am having Botox treatments for migraine. The 2 together seem to take enough edge of the pain to make it bearable. I hate taking all these drugs, but I have to be able to function normally. I'm under close observation by multiple doctors. all have all my information, and so does my family doctor just in case of bad interactions. My only side effect was foot swelling. It sounds silly, but since it is all helping, I just bought bigger shoes.
I sincerely pray you will will find relief. I live day to day, some are good, some not so good, and you might think nobody cares. Those of us here understand. Greg
MacIntosh12
10 Feb 2013
Hi Marcie,
I'm terribly sorry that you are experiencing such horrible pain. Your gabapentin dose may need to be upped to 3600 miligrams, or you may not have any relief. Yet there is a trade off, of sorts, as Gab can cause so many side effects. I know, cuz I am having those side effects as I write this.
Would you check the vial for the spelling of your other med, could it be "Nortriptyline" or something akin to that? Just need to know, as others will also want to know when they answer your question.
It sounds as if, with the last surgery being a total failure, that you should be on some type of narcotic pain med, such as oxycodone, when the pain gets out of control. Just my opinion, and you probably don't want to take narcotics, but they may be your best chance for pain relief.
I'm very surprised that you are not on something to help, like at the very least, Tramadol, which is a synthetic opioid analgesic. It might take the edge off your pain. I know how badly TMJ can hurt, may I ask if your ears sound as if there is a timpany drum being played by some miserable leprechaun in your ears? LOL, I've tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears, I believe it may be due to TMJ. Do you have a mouth guard? If not, have your dentist make one for you. I had one, but I used to awaken and whip it across the room.
I would think you have a mouth guard already.
Again, so sorry for your pain. Ask your doc if your Gabapentin dose should be increased. Just a thought.
Sincerely,
Lara
Related topics
pain, neuralgia, temporomandibular joint disorder, gabapentin, surgery, chronic, nerve
Further information
- Gabapentin uses and safety info
- Gabapentin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Gabapentin (detailed)
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