Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic painful condition involving the fifth cranial nerve, called the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal is the largest sensory cranial nerve and is responsible for sensations of touch, pressure, pain, and temperature in your cheeks, jaw, gums, forehead, and eye areas.
The symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia can be confused with migraine, toothache and many other problems that cause facial pain, making it tricky to diagnose. Most commonly the pain is unilateral, sudden, recurrent, extreme, and burning or shock-like. It may last only seconds or a couple of minutes, but the pain is severe enough to be mentally and physically incapacitating.
Trigeminal neuralgia pain is provoked by everyday activities such as brushing your teeth, shaving, talking, drinking or even exposure to wind. Over time you may begin to avoid anything that might provoke the pain. People who suffer long term may avoid leaving the house altogether. As the condition progresses, attacks often become more severe and more frequent and the time between attacks shortens.
My suggestion is that you visit EmpowHER's Trigeminal Neuralgia community section to review the articles, videos, member comments and clinical information. If you find the information seems to support a diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia I would schedule an appointment with a neurologist.
Let us know if this information is helpful. We hope you get the answers you need soon.
Comment Reply
Hi Anon-
Thanks for your question and welcome to EmpowHER!
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic painful condition involving the fifth cranial nerve, called the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal is the largest sensory cranial nerve and is responsible for sensations of touch, pressure, pain, and temperature in your cheeks, jaw, gums, forehead, and eye areas.
The symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia can be confused with migraine, toothache and many other problems that cause facial pain, making it tricky to diagnose. Most commonly the pain is unilateral, sudden, recurrent, extreme, and burning or shock-like. It may last only seconds or a couple of minutes, but the pain is severe enough to be mentally and physically incapacitating.
Trigeminal neuralgia pain is provoked by everyday activities such as brushing your teeth, shaving, talking, drinking or even exposure to wind. Over time you may begin to avoid anything that might provoke the pain. People who suffer long term may avoid leaving the house altogether. As the condition progresses, attacks often become more severe and more frequent and the time between attacks shortens.
My suggestion is that you visit EmpowHER's Trigeminal Neuralgia community section to review the articles, videos, member comments and clinical information. If you find the information seems to support a diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia I would schedule an appointment with a neurologist.
Let us know if this information is helpful. We hope you get the answers you need soon.
Best,
Pat
September 14, 2014 - 10:50amThis Comment
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