trigeminal neuralgia
"I went to several doctors and wasted 5 months and a lot of dollars before I was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia.  I was originally diagnosed with TMJ disorder.  My excruciating pain was right in the middle of my ear and it was the worst stabbing, electric-like pain anyone could imagine.  It would just paralyze you.  No indications on when it would happen.  I have been on carbamazepine for about two months and it has work fantastically.  It did make me a bit sleepy and unsteady in the beginning, but that has waned and now I really do not have any side effects. I do sleep better at night than I did before I took it. I take 2 chewable tablets, 100 mg, 2x a day and that has taken care of the pain. I have not had any episodes since I started taking it."