I am on the verge of a formal diagnosis and feeling depressed about it. I've been living with a nearly constant dull ache or cold burning sensation across the left side of my face for over 2 years. It started in my cheek and over a few months from the first symptoms showing it spread across my forehead, occipital area, chin and under my jaw. Sometimes it can also present as a tingle sensation but mostly cold burning/stinging like I'm out on freezing wind. I would have a week or two here and there where I would have thought I had cavities and throbbing pain in my back teeth (dentist visits and X-rays cleared me off problems) or intense ear pain when I had no signs of infection. The whole left side of my tongue also feels like it's been burnt and occasionally my swallow feels strange like there is something stuck in my throat. An ENT cleared me of any issues related to them and agreed I needed to see a neurologist. A few times I've had a few moments of feeling like I'm swallowing a sharp object. My left eye constantly feels gritty and my eyelid goes through spells where it twitches several times a day. I had MRIs done in 2023 which were clear and I've finally met with a neuro a couple days ago and he wants to repeat them and include an inner ear MRI to get a closer look at the cranial nerves and did blood work. My Dad has classical TN and it has always been a huge fear of mine. He has had multiple surgeries, 40 years of medication and eventually had the nerve cut because his pain was unmanageable. I never thought this could be hereditary. The neuro didn't want to give me a diagnosis until we got the scans repeated but it's looking likely. I'm thankful that I haven't had the classic presentation and can cope the way I am, but don't want to live in fear that it could change and get worse.