Maxillofacial referral - what to expect?

[rallytog1]

I posted a couple of weeks ago about some weird facial/dental/head pain I've been having.

Well, several courses of antibiotics, strong painkillers, misdiagnoses etc etc later, I've now been referred to a maxillofacial surgeon for further investigation. My appointment is on Tuesday.

I have stepped away from Dr Google, so I'm not panicking too much (yet), but I've no idea what to expect really, and wondered if anyone had ever been in a similar situation and has an idea of what they might do at my appointment?

I've already had a blood test and the doctor said the results were fine. I'm hoping that means there's nothing horrendously wrong disease-wise (surely anything like that would show up on a blood test, wouldn't it?) She did my referral as an urgent one, but said that was more because of the amount of pain I'm in, rather than concern about the severity of the problem.

If anyone has any wisdom they could share, I'd be really grateful.

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

It sounds like Trigeminal neuralgia.

[rallytog1]

Thanks. That's actually been ruled out (not sure how), along with parotitis, any other kind of infection, salivary gland stones, and more. I've lost track of what has been ruled out and why! Just hoping to find out a bit more about what they might do at my initial appointment...

[Myamya]

Don't panic! They do a variety of things in those clinics, they don't jump straight to scary options (thank god, I would've legged it!).

I was referred there years ago for face/dental pain/headaches and they were so helpful. The first appointment involved a bit of poking and prodding (painful but you've probably already been through that multiple times!) and generally looking at my face/jaw/mouth, x-rays, chatting to me about the pain (triggers etc), what medication I'd tried etc etc.

They explained possible options, prescribed me some stuff & sent me home to see if the medication helped. Think they proceed with caution.

Mine was TMJ problems, which I'm assuming they've ruled out for you?

[catsdogsandbabies]

Google giant cell arteritis just to see if anything familiar. My mum has it.

[Scousadelic]

I had exactly the same as Myama both in terms of the appointment and the diagnosis. The only thing the MF clinic did that I had not done before was a pan-oral Xray which went right round from one side of the jaws to the other

[Myamya]

Scousadelic haha I had that X-ray too! Weirdly enjoyed it...

[rallytog1]

Thanks! The crazy x-ray sounds, er, fun?

I'm just feeling a bit paranoid and down about it - but the constant pain plus crazy painkillers are probably contributing to that. I had a load of serious health issues last year and so I was hoping that that was me done for a while.

Thank you for helping me feel like it'll be mundane and pedestrian - hopefully the diagnosis will be the same!