Overview
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve in the face, causing severe, shock-like facial pain.
Symptoms
Sudden, severe facial pain Episodes triggered by chewing, speaking, or touch Pain typically on one side of the face Brief episodes lasting seconds to minutes Emotional distress due to unpredictable pain
Causes
Compression of the trigeminal nerve by blood vessels Multiple sclerosis causing nerve damage Injury or surgery affecting the nerve
Diagnosis
Detailed patient history and symptom description Neurological examination Imaging (MRI) to detect nerve compression or lesions
Treatment
Medications: anticonvulsants or muscle relaxants Microvascular decompression surgery Radiofrequency ablation or gamma knife therapy Pain management strategies and counseling