Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a neurological condition that affects the facial nerves. It causes sudden and intense facial pain, particularly in the lower face and jaw, and can also extend to areas such as the nose, ears, eyes, or lips. The pain is often described as sharp, stabbing, or shock-like, resulting from irritation of the trigeminal nerve, which branches out to the forehead, cheek, and lower jaw. Typically, the pain is localized to one side of the face.
While trigeminal neuralgia is not always curable, various treatment options are available to alleviate the sharp pain. Anticonvulsant medications are usually the first line of treatment. For patients who do not respond to medication or who experience severe side effects, surgical intervention may be considered as a last resort.
Branches Of Trigeminal Nerve And The Area Of Pain
Ophthalmic
Maxillary
Impacts the lower eyelid, side of nose, cheek, gum, lip, and upper teeth
Mandibular
Impacts the jaw, lower teeth, gum, and lower lip
Symptoms Of Trigeminal Neuralgia
The symptoms that may occur include
Occasional twinges of mild pain remaining from a few seconds to several minutes
Critical episodes of shooting, jabbing pain that seem like electric shocks
Unexpected attacks of pain triggered by stimuli that are usually not severe, such as by touching the face, chewing, speaking, or brushing the teeth
Fits of pain which last from a couple of seconds to a couple of minutes
Occurrences of cluster attacks, which may last longer, but between them, there will be no pain
Causes Of Trigeminal Neuralgia
The trigeminal nerve is a pair of cranial nerves in the head. It is the nerve liable for providing a response to the face. The pain connected with trigeminal neuralgia depicts an irritation of the nerve. The cause of the pain normally is due to contact within a healthy artery or vein and the trigeminal nerve at the bottom of the brain. This sets pressure on the nerve as it invades the brain and makes the nerve to misfire. Other causes of trigeminal neuralgia include the pressure of a tumor on the nerve.
Vascular Compression: A healthy artery or vein pressing against the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain, causing irritation.
Multiple Sclerosis: This neurological condition can damage the protective covering of the nerve, leading to trigeminal neuralgia.
Tumors: A tumor pressing on the trigeminal nerve can cause pain and irritation.
Nerve Injury: Previous facial trauma or surgery that affects the trigeminal nerve may lead to neuralgia.
Aging: Natural degeneration of the nerve with age can increase the risk of developing trigeminal neuralgia.
Meet Our Doctor
Dr. Shailesh Jain is a renowned neurosurgeon of Delhi. He is the associate director of Neurosurgery & head of Endovascular neurointervention at Max hospital, Shalimar Bagh. He runs his own clinic, “Niramaya neurospine and diagnostic centre” in Maurya enclave, Pitampura as well.
Dr. Jain did his Mch Neurosurgery from prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi for spine fellowship he went to Cleveland, USA.
He treats all kinds of brain & spine problems like headache, backache, tumors, spondylitis etc.
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