Atypical facial pain is more difficult to treat. This pain sometimes occurs with occasional electric shock-like stabs that may last a day or more. Frequency of painful attacks increases over time and may become disablingĪ less common form of the disorder, called atypical trigeminal neuralgia, causes a less intense, constant, dull burning or aching pain.
Can last several days or weeks, followed by a remission for months or years.The pain of typical trigeminal neuralgia usually has the following features: Trigger points (circles) have the greatest sensitivity. Other activities, such as shaving or brushing teeth, can also trigger pain.įigure 2. Therefore, some patients avoid talking, eating, kissing, or drinking. These zones are usually near the nose, lips, eyes, ear, or inside the mouth. Some patients are sensitive in certain areas of the face, called trigger zones, which when touched cause an attack (Fig. Everyday activities can trigger an episode. Patients describe an attack as a "pins and needles" sensation that turns into a burning or jabbing pain, or as an electrical shock that may last a few seconds or minutes. But trigeminal neuralgia can progress, causing longer, frequent attacks of searing pain. The patient may initially experience short, mild attacks, with periods of remission. This pain comes in repeated waves that last an hour or more. Typical trigeminal neuralgia involves brief instances of intense pain, like an electrical shock in one side of the face. Also called tic douloureux because of the uncontrollable facial twitching caused by the pain, trigeminal neuralgia is serious because it interferes with many aspects of a person's life. When the trigeminal nerve becomes irritated, an attack of intense pain results. It has three divisions that branch from the trigeminal ganglion: ophthalmic division (V1) provides sensation to the forehead and eye, maxillary division (V2) provides sensation to the cheek, and mandibular division (V3) provides sensation to the jaw. The trigeminal nerve supplies feeling and movement to the face. Mandibular division (V3) provides sensation to the jaw and lower lip it also provides movement of the muscles involved in biting, chewing, and swallowing.įigure 1.Maxillary division (V2) provides sensation to the cheek, upper lip, and roof of the mouth.Ophthalmic division (V1) provides sensation to the forehead and eye.It divides into three branches and then exits the skull to supply feeling and movement to the face (Fig. The trigeminal nerve is the fifth (V) cranial nerve, which arises from the brainstem inside the skull. Neuralgia is severe pain caused by injury or damage to a nerve.
You and your doctor should determine which treatment is best for you. Each treatment offers benefits, but each has limitations. Medication, injections, surgery, and radiation may be used to treat the pain.
Although the exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is not fully understood, a blood vessel is often found compressing the nerve. Attacks of intense, electric shock-like facial pain can occur without warning or be triggered by touching specific areas of the face. Trigeminal neuralgia is extreme pain and muscle spasms in the face. Trigeminal Neuralgia (facial pain) Overview
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