Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Has anyone seen a facial pain specialist?

Options
  • 14-05-2023 12:15am
    #1
    somethingbleh
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭


    Guy called Dr John o Brien.


    Im always a bit sus about dentists who put "Dr" in their title without achieving a PhD..but many dentists do so I'm willing to overlook

    Anyways my dentist referred him to me. It's for special cases with atypical tooth and face pain.. Both of which I have in spades .

    He seems to be popular (has multiple clinics.2 Dublin ,and one in bray, Galway and portlaise and cork afaik.

    After being a general dentist for over 20 years he studied the area of facial pain and two year full-time postgraduate course in Orofacial Pain Management at UCLA, a world renowned program in this specialised field.

    Did two year full-time postgraduate course in Orofacial Pain Management at UCLA, a world renowned program in this specialised field.He subsequently was awarded the status of Diplomate of Orofacial Pain.

    Back in Ireland for 23 years so he's been through a slew of patients and appears very busy . I've been surprised not to read any testimonials though.

    The secretary told me he can give me a diagnosis on the initial assessment (130bucks) then it's 120 for every return visit plus treatment costs.

    I also love 3 hours away from Dublin and 3.5 from Galway which is a rough day round trip.

    My only concern is that I have already been enrolled in a pain clinic in a private northern hospital.

    I saw this doctor last month (actual anesthetist with special interest in faicial pain. Lovely man but he just took notes and didn't advise on a diagnosis. Just to plan first line of treatment in 8 weeks from then (long wait when you have chronic pain every day but I got lucky cancellation do hot in 2 weeks later after that he said he would have a follow up call in TEN weeks which is bizarre as I saw no relief whatsoever and it doesn't improve over that time .

    Chased them up again but think I might be getting to slow tier as although it's a private hospital, I'm a *public* patient so we probably have longer waiting times?

    But I'm wondering if it's worth paying out of pocket a few times to this guy if I may eventually be offered the same or possibly conflicting treatment / diagnosis.

    What tempts me is that the secretary said he can give a diagnosis upon the initial assessment (same last name so may be biased..

    But I'm torn on the whole thing so obviously I'm turning to boards/ Ireland for advice.



Comments

  • Options
    #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Years ago I went to one for what was diagnosed as Trigeminal Neuralgia, and I ended up on gabapentin, which has a lot of side effects and was of modest help. It turned out I had the type of tooth abscess that doesn’t show up on xray and tooth removal solved the issue. More recently I have developed MS, and Trigeminal Neuralgia can be triggered by that but of course I’ve had many other symptoms. I just think it may have made my facial nerves particularly reactive. An MRI often shows up potential underlying issues.



Advertisement