Anterior ethmoid nerves ?

Were you given local anesthesia in your nose? Something much stronger than the usual spray before endoscopic examination?

One way of doing this is through insertion of several cotton balls soaked in lidocaine. That's how an ENT who believe in middle turbinate syndrome and other nerve conditions might approach the question of whether your pain indeed originates in the nose.

Be warned that many ENTs, if not most, don't take an interest in nasal pain that doesn't stem from something obvious like an infection or polyps.

A neurosurgeon specializing in facial pain may be worthwhile talking to.

It's Trigeminal Neuralgia. If you go to a Neurologist they will sell you what is in their candy store. Asking if there is surgery they will say no - BUT - the truth is Micro decompression surgery is a 1 1/2 hour cure for 90% of people. They clean out the extra tissue surrounding the nerve freeing it up from being entrapped. They use a 1 inch sponge to place in between the nerve and what is compressing it... is. a blood vessel ect… Because inflammation can come and go that may move it closer to the contact irritant an MRI may show close proximity but not contact. 2 nerves with lighting strikes in to the eyes or other nerves like external nasal. Back of head Occipital Neuralgia. Sad... when they want you to go with 40 years worth of shots in the head when there is a 1 hour surgery cure. A white coat uniformed person knows your worth - in my case - $45,000. a year in shots and visits - why would they tell you about a cure? They would be out of business! Read everything you can - Neurosurgeon does not use MRI to confirm but rather rule out other things like tumors.

Thank you! Will look into your commment.

Do you think my condition is related to sphenoplatine neuralgia? Or any idea if sphenoplatine nerve block can help?

Pls help/comment anyone!

The absolute best doc for Anterior Ethmoid Nerve Syndrome--IF that is what you have--is Sonya Malekzadeh in Washington DC.

Hey bullyboo, I have been suffering from a similar condition for over a year, a lot of the same pressure and painful symptoms in front part of the nose (including the tip), and between the eyes. I have bone spur in my nasal septum that is pressing on the inferior turbinate, but my local doc is not sure if addressing that will relieve the pain. I did read the article about Dr. Malekzadeh, but just wondering if you have made any progress in getting a diagnosis? Have any of you actually seen Dr Malekzadeh? I am tentatively planning to travel to see her on March 10.

Filbert 92 - just wanted to know how you found out about her and why you think she is the best doc for this type of syndrome? was it simply based on her article about the 'Lee Nelson' headache?

thanks

hi, bullyboo here, the original guy who started the thead. tomito, would u mind giving your email or your msn messenger account here so we can discuss further on how alike our symptoms are? for eg my pain is constantly pulsating (according to heartbeat) inside the nose with alot of pressure on cheekbones, nose, eyes, temple, with headache etc. If our symptoms are alike enough then maybe we can brainstorm and share possible treatment ideas. looking forward to ur reply thanks.

hi tomito, what did Malakzadeh comment when she saw you? Did she recommend any nose/sinus operation procedure or suggest that the pain can be surgically treated? Hope you can reply and provide precious info regarding this type of nose pain. Thanks

bullyboo,
This is my first post in this thread. I hope you are still checking the thread. I've had this condition since mid-2007. I've seen dozens of doctors about it. Last year, I traveled across the country to see Dr. Malekzadeh. (There was an article about her in the Wash Post, which is why people tend to gravitate toward her) She was not able to help me. Frustratingly, she suggested that I was suffering from migraines or cluster headaches, which I know is not the case.

I have thoroughly explored the "ENT" angle. I did have a bone spur in my septum, which I had removed at the Mayo Clinic last year. It did not fix the pain.

I would welcome the chance to chat about this, if you can, write me.

I also want to mention some articles you might find interesting, if you can find/Google them:

- Todd Rozen, "Post-Traumatic External Nasal Pain Syndrome"

- A.J. Drysdale, "External nasal nerve division: a treatment for post-traumatic neuralgia"

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping some of you are still checking this thread. I have symptoms remarkably similar to the ones mentioned by others here. I had pain start out of the blue at the bridge of my nose 7 years ago. The pain is extremely bad and also is often at my temples and around my eyes. The only thing I've found that helps is chewing on something such as gum. Chewing on gum is the only way I've been able to put up with this pain for 7 years. Is anyone else's pain helped by chewing? Do you have any idea why it might be helped by chewing?

After the pain started 7 years ago, my ENT did find a sinus infection in my left sphenoid sinus. He performed nasal surgery to drain the sinus, widen the opening, and fix a deviated septum. Now, my CT scans are clear of anything my ENT thinks might cause this pain.

Have any of you found anything to help or any specialists that have helped you? I've read the article mentioning Dr. Malekzadeh. I'm sorry she wasn't able to help you bullyboo. The pain in that article sounds exactly like what I experience as well. I have also read about Dr. Behin and how he treats contact point headaches. On his website it says they perform surgery to remove the middle and superior turbinates and perform an ethmoidectomy to get rid of these types of headaches. The theory is that the turbinates may be coming into contact with the nasal septum and causing the pain. Have any of you heard of this Dr. Behin? Do you think this type of surgery may help?


Feel free to post a reply or write me directly. Thanks

Hi, I'm hoping u will get this message even though its been a long time since this post. I also chew gum to deal with the relentless pressure/pain in the bridge of my nose. I had sinus surgery back in 2012 and was scheduled in Dec for ethmoid/sphenoid surgery but it has been postponed as the doctors feel its migraines or nerve related. I've just started gabapentin. I do have times when the pain isn't here. This started 5 days ago when I had a terrible migraine for 2 days and then the rest of my head pain went away but the pressure/pain settled in the bridge of my nose. My glasses make the pain worse.
I thought this was all related to sinus infections and have had a slew of antibiotics that seem to work but then a few weeks later the pain comes back. I wish so much they wouldn't postpone my surgery as I do feel its my ethmoid sinuses. But I feel like they do not believe me. sigh. I'm wondering how you are doing now and if there has been any resolution?

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping some of you are still checking this thread. I have symptoms remarkably similar to the ones mentioned by others here. I had pain start out of the blue at the bridge of my nose 7 years ago. The pain is extremely bad and also is often at my temples and around my eyes. The only thing I’ve found that helps is chewing on something such as gum. Chewing on gum is the only way I’ve been able to put up with this pain for 7 years. Is anyone else’s pain helped by chewing? Do you have any idea why it might be helped by chewing?

After the pain started 7 years ago, my ENT did find a sinus infection in my left sphenoid sinus. He performed nasal surgery to drain the sinus, widen the opening, and fix a deviated septum. Now, my CT scans are clear of anything my ENT thinks might cause this pain.

Have any of you found anything to help or any specialists that have helped you? I’ve read the article mentioning Dr. Malekzadeh. I’m sorry she wasn’t able to help you bullyboo. The pain in that article sounds exactly like what I experience as well. I have also read about Dr. Behin and how he treats contact point headaches. On his website it says they perform surgery to remove the middle and superior turbinates and perform an ethmoidectomy to get rid of these types of headaches. The theory is that the turbinates may be coming into contact with the nasal septum and causing the pain. Have any of you heard of this Dr. Behin? Do you think this type of surgery may help?

Thanks

My son has had the anterior ethmoid surgery by Dr. Malekzedeh and had a 50% improvement of the pain. She is no longer seeing patients since she is now focused primarily on research. My son recently had another surgery to "tweak" things by Dr. Suzette Mikula at the same Georgetown office. She is amazing and I would give it another shot and see her if you could for her opinion. We have gotten amazing results so I would strongly recommend you go back and see Dr. Mikula.

how many of you wear glasses? i have noticed the bridge of my glasses restin on my nose causing nerve pain and over time meld a kink in my nose( top of the ridge). since massageing the area and putting padding (cotton fabric, fliffy) so there would be softer contact. this has greatly helped with the pain