Right side of head and Jaw burning and pain

[FrankPro1]

Sure, no problem..!

1. If just dipping your head in the water causes the symptom to recur, that would actually be MORE encouraging (from the point of view of your diving future)... Something like that suggests to me that this is more related to your skin, sensory nerves, etc... rather than some deep underlying problem with equalization.

2.The fact that your lymph nodes are swollen (on the side of your symptoms?) suggests some sort of inflammatory/infectious process. I know that this is frustrating, hopefully you will be seen soon.

3.I'm sure that this is very frustrating! But hang in there, don't give up on diving yet...


Mike

1. From the time the incident occurred to now, my ears have felt like there equalizing fine. It is encouraging to here that it sounds like not a problem with equalization but something related to my sensory nerves. Maybe a strain? Or sinus strain/headache, due to descending to fast? Even though I did have "what I thought" to be a safe descent, I did notice my knees hit the sandy bottom pretty fast on the dive.

2. Yep my lymph nodes are swollen on the same side of my symptoms. So there might me something going on in head/jaw related to the swollen nodes.

3. It is frustrating, but I have grown to close to the open blue in my years free diving to give up on it now. No matter what the diagnosis, I know I have the drive to get myself back in the water.

Thanks again, you've been a great help.

 

[Dive-aholic]

1. Head pain located up and forward from the ear, going towards the brow "Side of Face"
2. Started in the region described above, then radiated down through my jaw

It can still be felt as a dull ache accompanied by sporadic tingling and burning

At first, I was thinking dental. But where it starts seems more like a sinus issue. doctormike's suggestion of a neurological problem is also a likely candidate. You need to be checked out. Unfortunately, I don't think the free clinic will provide an answer. Have you called DAN and described the symptoms to someone there?

 

[FrankPro1]

At first, I was thinking dental. But where it starts seems more like a sinus issue. doctormike's suggestion of a neurological problem is also a likely candidate. You need to be checked out. Unfortunately, I don't think the free clinic will provide an answer. Have you called DAN and described the symptoms to someone there?

You might be right about the dental issue. Another sad result of not having medical/dental insurance is that I never got my wisdom teeth removed. I was told that I could go either way "remove them or just leave them in", but they haven't fully broke the surface right and have caused pain in the past.

I know that the free clinic can only do so much, and I'm most likely expecting them to refer me to an ENT doctor. But unfortunately its one of the only choices I have right now.

Thanks Dive-aholic for your response.

 

[FrankPro1]

Just got back from the free clinic... and well they weren't much help. I don't have an ear infection, they said nothing about my neck being swollen and all I got out of it was that I have high blood pressure. They gave me some pills and sent me on my way... Looks like I'm gonna call DAN and see if they can refer me to a good ENT doctor in my area... I keep ya'll updated on my progress.

 

[DandyDon]

Thanks. Many of us are curious as well as concerned and wishing you the best...!

Have you seen a dentist in the last year...??

 

[trigfunctions]

I had a somewhat similar pain during a dive that turned out to be a "tooth strain". I must been chomping on the mouthpiece or I bit it at an angle or something, but all of a sudden it felt like someone stuck an ice pick in my face. I thought it was a squeeze of some kind, but a trip to the dentist confirmed that I had strained one of the ligaments that holds a tooth to the jaw and it was inflamed. You might want to look into that possibility.

 

[FrankPro1]

I had a somewhat similar pain during a dive that turned out to be a "tooth strain". I must been chomping on the mouthpiece or I bit it at an angle or something, but all of a sudden it felt like someone stuck an ice pick in my face. I thought it was a squeeze of some kind, but a trip to the dentist confirmed that I had strained one of the ligaments that holds a tooth to the jaw and it was inflamed. You might want to look into that possibility.

That's one of the next stops on my medical list. Sounds like it could be the culprit.
Thanks for the reply

And no Dandy Don its sadly been too long since my last dental appointment... I had a crown replaced last year, but I haven't got a cleaning or xrays in a LONG time.

 

[FrankPro1]

I received this from a DAN rep:

Thanks for your inquiry and your support as a DAN member. While we can’t say with certainty what is causing this pain, it seems likely that it may be due to a sinus barotrauma (“squeeze”). Your interest in finding an ENT specialist is definitely a good approach to this issue. Here is the contact information for the ENT in our referral network in southern California :

This "sinus squeeze/headache" was one of the possibilities I was considering. Here's an online description:

Sinus squeeze commonly occurs when a diver cannot equalize sinus pressure due to nasal congestion.

Sinus Squeeze Symptoms:

* Pressure or pain in the forehead or around the teeth, cheeks, or eyes may occur.

* The nose may bleed.

* Pressure and pain increase with depth.

Sinus Squeeze Treatment:

The following guidelines are suggested in treating sinus squeeze:

* Apply warm compresses to the face.

* Avoid diving until recovery is complete.

* Take decongestants (such as Afrin) for a maximum of 3 days.

* Take one 30-mg tablet of pseudoephedrine (such as Sudafed) every 6 hours for 2-3 days. Avoid products with pseudoephedrine if you have a history of high blood pressure.

Keywords: sinus squeeze, sinus squeeze, sinuses, sinus pressure, nasal congestion, diving, scuba diving, tooth pain

 

[DandyDon]

30 mg pseudoephedrine? I guess that's a good starting place. My norm is 2 - 60 mg a day just for me & my life; today is one of those acute days after a norther blew thru: 4 is not going to be enough. But back to your Frank...

Online discussions can be helpful and informative, and I look forward to knowing what you learn - but I think you need to actually see an ENT and a Dentist. Start taking better care in your periodic checkups; it just gets more important with aging.

 

[FrankPro1]

but I think you need to actually see an ENT and a Dentist. Start taking better care in your periodic checkups; it just gets more important with aging.

I totally agree. I have an appointment next week with a internal medicine doctor and then from there I plan on going to a dentist and Ent. And in the future I am going to start having periodic exams... I'm never going to let this happen again. Its the end of summer and I've been missing my big blue mistress I haven't been away from her this long in a very long time.