Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a type of chronic pain that affects your face. It causes extreme, sudden burning or shock-like pain. It usually affects one side of the 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.

TN usually affects people over 50, especially women. The cause is probably a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. Tumors and multiple sclerosis can also cause TN, but in some cases the cause is unknown.

There is no single test to diagnose TN. It can be hard to diagnose, since many other conditions can cause facial pain. Treatment options include medicines, surgery, and complementary techniques. (NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)

Also called: Tic douloureux, TN

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Trigeminal Nerve Neoplasm

Benign and malignant neoplasms which arise from or metastasize to the trigeminal or fifth cranial nerve which provides sensory innervation to the…

Trigeminal Nerve Disorder

A non-neoplastic or neoplastic disorder affecting the trigeminal nerve (fifth cranial nerve).

Trigeminal nerve

The main sensory nerve of the head and face, and the motor nerve of the muscles used in chewing. Also called fifth…

Trigeminal Ganglion/Trigeminal Nerve

A tissue sample that contains the trigeminal ganglion and branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal Ganglion

Large sensory ganglion of the trigeminal nerve that lies adjacent to the cavernous sinus in the trigeminal cavity of the dura…

TriGem

An anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody that mimics the disialoganglioside GD2, a cancer-associated antigen present on melanoma, small cell lung cancer, sarcoma, neuroblastoma and…