Symptoms
Trigeminal neuralgia is facial pain, which is a form of neuropathic pain. The typical complaints are attacks of knife-like (or lightning-like) shooting pains into the face (forehead, cheek or lower jaw), which can occur several times a day. These may occur spontaneously or be triggered by movements, actions or touching the face (talking, swallowing, chewing, brushing teeth, drafts etc.). Between attacks, there may be a mild dull pain or numbness in the same area.
Causes
Usually there is a vascular loop inside the head (where the nerve exits the brain) that presses on the nerve and causes the abnormal sensations. Sometimes the cause may also be a tumor or simple nerve inflammation.
What we can offer
Treatment/progression
Antiepileptic drugs are most commonly used as treatment because they are particularly effective for neuropathic pain.
