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Trigeminal Neuralgia
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What is trigeminal neuralgia? Trigeminal neuralgia means nerve pain in the face, teeth, mouth, or nasal cavity. It may occur on one or both sides of the face. Trigeminal neuralgia is also called tic douloureux. How does it occur? Trigeminal neuralgia occurs most often in women over age 40, although it may occur in men or women of any age. The problem appears suddenly and may get better on its own. It may also disappear for months or years, only to return. An attack of trigeminal neuralgia often brings stabbing or burning pain that comes in sudden jabs. This may last from 1 to 15 minutes. The most common areas of attack are the cheeks and jaw. An attack usually follows some sort of trigger. These may include:
The frequency of the attacks varies from person to person. Between attacks, most people are free of pain. Some may have a dull ache. The causes are not well understood. The problem may result from:
What are the symptoms? The person may favor the area of the face by trying to hold it still. He or she often stops washing and shaving the area and may keep it covered. How is it diagnosed? Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. He or she will examine you. Tests may be needed to rule out other causes of pain such as infections of the teeth or sinuses. You may have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to check for multiple sclerosis or a tumor as a cause of the pain. Your health care provider may also refer you to a neurologist, neurosurgeon, or physiatrist for additional testing. How is it treated? Anticonvulsant medicines, muscle relaxants, and antianxiety medicines may help and may be used in combination to relieve pain. If medicine does not provide relief, you might consider surgery. There are methods to remove part of the nerve. These include electrosurgery, microsurgery, and radio wave surgery. After surgery, the affected area will lose the pain and its sense of touch. You must be very careful to watch for future physical problems that usually cause pain, such as:
Some people may find pain is reduced or relieved by acupuncture, chiropractic adjustment, self-hypnosis, or meditation. For more information, call the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association at 800-929-3608 or visit the Web site at http://www.tna-support.org.  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a
replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
HIA File BRN3433F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.
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