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Help! Need your opinions on upcoming unrelated procedure.

Due to recurring sinus infections and huge tonsils, my ENT wants me to get my adenoids and tonsils removed. I did some research and became really concerned because the tonsils are ruled by the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), which is one of the many parts of the trigeminal nerve.

One of the treatments my TN specialist does for TNP teeth pain is a nerve block on the SPG, which led me to believe that it's even more likely since I already have a pain issue with an area affected by the SPG. It's theoretically possible I could develop a new pain problem in my throat after my tonsils are removed.

So I called him today and spoke to him about this possibility. He said that while it's very unlikely this would happen, like a .009% chance, but that since I'm prone to TNP, it's a tiny bit more likely it would happen to me than a "normal" person (hence the .009 compared to .000009). However, he feels it's so unlikely that I should go ahead and get the procedure.

I also asked if I should see one of his ENT's, since they know more about my problem, and while he was willing to refer me, he said that it's such a basic procedure that he didn't think it's necessary. He's a 6-7 hour round trip, so I told him I would just go ahead with my surgeon then.

I'm scared about this. I feel the surgery will really help me with other health issues, like recurring sinus infections. However, if I developed a pain problem in my throat from this, I'd be devastated, obviously. But again, he feels it's very unlikely.

He also said that in general, the tonsil area is one of the rarer areas he sees people with TNP, as opposed to the teeth which is the most common.

Any thoughts? You friends are the only people who truly understand what a big decision this is. While .009% chance is very slim, TNP in the teeth itself is very rare, and that happened.

What would you do? Any thoughts?

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Comment by Tracy C from BC on April 17, 2012 at 4:15pm: http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-TRIN.htm ... Some great info but only states sinusitis is the cause of some facial pain but part of the TN info :)

Comment by Tracy C from BC on April 17, 2012 at 4:13pm: Hi Crystal,
There is research that shows large adnoids cause repeat sinusitis or even chronic sinusitis, I have also read that chronic or repeat sinus infections can damage and/or swelling around the trigeminal nerve. This would be labelled TNP to most. With this information documented I would think your doctor could say it is related and it may in fact fix your pain. I'm sorry I am not able to back up what I have read. Let's hope your lucky and fix both issues .... The first for them as you say :)

Comment by elaine48 on April 16, 2012 at 11:28pm: i was also tlod it was most unusual, but i still got it.i also have a lot of scar tissue from my surgery at the age of 8. how did i get so lucky???

Comment by elaine48 on April 16, 2012 at 11:25pm: i have a growth from chronic irritation of the lingular tonsil. could your dr, explain that? i understand its rare but i do have it from the scar tissue irritating the area.

Comment by Richard A. "Red" Lawhern on February 15, 2012 at 2:44pm: Stase, I've done a fair amount of reading in medical literature during the past 16 years. I've never seen a consistent relationship between adenoid issues and TN or ATN. Have you run into any papers along the way that explore such a relationship?

Comment by stase on February 15, 2012 at 2:30pm: I read all coments and am sorry about some mine decisions.

75% of sinus cavities sounds very seriously , I am not sure if it is possible to remove "that big sh*t" in endoscopic way :( But you should ask your ENT doctor. If these adenoids are above your teeths, it could be reason of your pain, I am wondering how your face pain specialist can be so sure that it IS NOT reason of your TNP/ATN pain...

Comment by stase on February 15, 2012 at 2:15pm: had you tried homeopathy for these ENTproblems, which symptoms disturbes you most?and what about antibiotics or cleaning (invasive procedure/ not real surgery) for sinus cavities?

Comment by stase on February 15, 2012 at 2:08pm: something else - I read other comments here and my opinion is that your adenoids ARE related to your TNP/ATN, it is so close to each other - they are above your teeth...I for example have rare anatomy in women - that I do not have bone (or it is very thin) between my molars and maxillary sinuses, which lead to connection berween oral cavity and sinus after molar extraction. What your TN doctor is saying about these ENT problems, do he/she sees connection?

Comment by stase on February 15, 2012 at 1:58pm: I had 2 sinus surgeries (rude ones, which is called by Coedel-Luke or something like that. More safe and less traumatic is endoscopic surgery. I didn't know that before :( If it is possible I recomend you to try first smth allternative.