Trigeminal Neuralgia

Can you imagine feeling a shock in your face as you brush your teeth or shave? If you have trigeminal neuralgia (TN), you may know exactly what it's like. You may feel extreme numbness, tingling or burning on a part of your face. Any vibration on your face, even from talking, can set it off. The condition may come and go, disappearing for days or even months. But the longer you have it, the less often it goes away.

Your trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensations on your face. The cause of TN is probably a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve. Tumors and multiple sclerosis can also cause TN, but in some cases the cause is unknown.

TN usually affects people over 50, especially women. Medicines and sometimes surgery can help with the pain.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Trigeminal Neuralgia on Wikipedia

'''Trigeminal neuralgia''' is a Neuropathy disorder of the trigeminal nerve that causes episodes of intense pain in the eyes, lips, nose, scalp, forehead, upper jaw, and lower jaw. Trigeminal neuralgia is considered by most physicians to be the most painful condition known to man, and has, in fact, been called the, "suicide disease," because this has been the choice of many people who were unable to have their pain controlled with medications or surgery. The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve, responsible for sensory data such as tactition (pressure), thermoception (temperature), and nociception (pain). In those suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, the myelin sheath of this nerve has been damaged, causing the electrical impusles traveling along it to be erratic or excessive, activating pain regions in the brain. The episodes come on suddenly, sometimes triggered by common movements and activities, and are said to feel like stabbing electric shocks. Individual attacks affect one side of the face at a time, last several seconds, and may come and go throughout the day, or for periods as long as several months. Although trigeminal neuralgia is not fatal, successive recurrences can be incapacitating, and the fear of provoking an attack may make sufferers reluctant to engage in normal activities. There is a variant of trigeminal neuralgia called, "atypical trigeminal neuralgia." In some cases of atypical trigeminal neuralgia, there is a severe underlying pain all the time, like a migraine, in addition to the stabbing pains. In other cases, the pain is stabbing and intense, but may feel like burning or prickling, rather than a shock. Sometimes, the pain is a combination of the zaps, the migraine-like pain, and the burning/prickly pain. There is no cure for trigeminal neuralgia, but it can be treated with anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, phenytoin or gabapentin (Neurontin). Some antidepressants ...   [ Read More ]

External Resources

eMedicine Health - Trigeminal Neuralgia (Facial Nerve Pain) - Consumer health resource center providing information on the causes, symptoms, and treatment of this disorder.

Facial Neuralgia Resources - Resources on trigeminal neuralgia, atypical face pain, anesthesia dolorosa and other cranial neuralgias. Information on symptoms, treatments, coping strategies, medical bibliography, and personal stories.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Association - Help for Trigeminal Neuralgia patients, families, and professional care givers.

TNA =UK - Official site of the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK, providing support and advice for sufferers of the most painful affliction known to man.

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Homeopathy Treatment - Information, diagnosis, symptoms and homeopathic treatments.

Facial Neuralgia Resources - Extensive patient-to-patient resource on trigeminal neuralgia, atypical face pain, anesthesia dolorosa & other cranial neuralgias. Information about symptoms, treatments, coping strategies, medical bibliography and personal stories.

TN-L Mailing List - Email list for sufferers of trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial pain, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, atypical trigeminal neuralgia and anesthesia dolorosa, and other facial pain conditions.

Trigeminal Neuralgia/Hemifacial Spasm Center - Information on symptoms and treatment for trigeminal neuralgia (tic doloreux), glossopharyngeal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm. From Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School.

UK Trigeminal Neuralgia Association - Help and support for UK based sufferers of trigeminal neuralgia. Complements and links to the US Trigeminal Neuralgia Association.

You're Not Alone! - Support page for people with trigeminal neuralgia. Includes guestbook, support network, information on medications, medical procedures, newsgroups and links to other resources.

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