Trigeminal neuralgia is an extremely painful inflammation of the largest nerve in the skull (trigeminal nerve).
Alternative Names:
Tic douloureux
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe lightening-like facial pain on the side of the affected nerve. The condition usually affects older adults. Often, no cause can be found, although areas of brain inflammation or abnormal blood vessels (arteriovenous malformations) can be responsible.
Painful trigeminal neuralgia attacks may occur after lightly touching different skin areas of the face, along the course of the sixth cranial (skull) nerve.
Symptoms:
Very painful, sharp electric-like spasms last a few seconds to minutes
Pain is triggered by touch or sounds
Pain during chewing, eating, drinking, shaving, or brushing teeth
Signs and tests:
An MRI and blood tests may help rule out other conditions.
Review Date: 4/28/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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