What is trigeminal neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia, also referred to as tic douloureaux, is a condition defined by intense facial pain that can disrupt your normal, everyday activities. Activities as simple as chewing, talking, smiling, brushing your teeth or shaving can trigger brief bouts of intense pain. Though these painful episodes are short-lived, the pain can return sporadically (on and off). Or you might also experience constant pain that isn’t as severe.
Typically, trigeminal neuralgia is unilateral (meaning it only affects one side of your face). If it’s bilateral, both sides will be affected, though not at the same time. Bilateral trigeminal neuralgia is also very rare. Interestingly, the right side of the face is usually more affected by this condition than the left.
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What is the trigeminal nerve?
The trigeminal nerve is one of 12 pairs of nerves attached to your brain. It’s responsible for transmitting touch and pain sensations from your face and head to the brain. There are three branches in the trigeminal nerve, all of which are responsible for transmitting nerve impulses to different parts of your face:
- The ophthalmic branch. The top portion of your face, including your forehead.
- The maxillary branch. Everything in the middle of your face, including your cheeks, nostrils and upper lip.
- The mandibular branch. The lower portion of your face, including your lower lip and jaw area.
What are the two main types of trigeminal neuralgia?
There are two main forms of trigeminal neuralgia:
- Typical (Type 1) trigeminal neuralgia. You’ll likely experience painful episodes that are sharp, intense and sporadic. You may feel pain and/or a burning sensation all over your face that can last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes. Though there will be pain-free breaks in between episodes, this can continue for up to two hours.
- Atypical (Type 2) trigeminal neuralgia. This will be less painful and intense but more widespread. You’ll likely feel constant pain, notably stabbing and/or burning sensations, along with persistent aches and pains. With atypical trigeminal neuralgia, you may have more difficulty controlling the symptoms.
How common is trigeminal neuralgia?
About 150,000 people each year are diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia. That’s roughly 4.3 new cases per 100,000 people. Trigeminal neuralgia affects people over the age of 50 significantly more than it does people under the age of 40, where it’s considered rare. This condition also affects women more than men and is considered a rare disorder.
Is trigeminal neuralgia related to MS?
About 1 to 2% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) also have trigeminal neuralgia. MS and trigeminal neuralgia both slowly break down the body’s main protective layer around the nerve (the myelin sheath), which is why there’s a slight overlap. MS patients can also develop trigeminal neuralgia after their MS diagnosis. Similarly, any 40-and-under trigeminal neuralgia patients are considered candidates to develop MS. So, if you fall in this age range, you should consider getting tested for MS.
FAQs
If medication alone does not stop the pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia, specialists at NYU Langone may recommend surgery.
What is the root cause of trigeminal neuralgia? ›
Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia
The condition may be caused by a blood vessel pressing against the trigeminal nerve, also known as vascular compression. Over time, the pulse of an artery rubbing against the nerve can wear away the insulation, which is called myelin, leaving the nerve exposed and highly sensitive.
Can trigeminal neuralgia be caused by surgery? ›
Symptoms and Causes
If you damage your trigeminal nerve through oral or sinus surgery, a stroke or from facial trauma, you may feel facial nerve pain that's similar to the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. Some cases of trigeminal neuralgia are idiopathic — meaning no specific cause is identified.
What is a red flag for trigeminal neuralgia? ›
Red flags such as progressive CN VII palsy or persistent CN V paraesthesia, numbness, formication or pain, particularly in the presence of immuno-compromise and/or a history of facial actinopathy should raise suspicion for PNS.
What is the newest surgical procedure for trigeminal neuralgia? ›
Stereotactic radiofrequency lesion (RFL) is a less invasive procedure than microvascular decompression. A radiologist and neurosurgeon collaborate to pinpoint the exact location of the nerve, then use high heat to destroy only the pain portions of the trigeminal nerve, leaving other sensation intact.
What flares up trigeminal neuralgia? ›
This is why many doctors will recommend treatment, as avoiding daily activities can be both difficult and disruptive. Though what triggers acute attacks will vary from patient to patient, common activities that cause trigeminal neuralgia to ramp up include: Hot, cold, spicy, or sour foods and beverages.
What can be mistaken for trigeminal neuralgia? ›
Imaging tests such as an MRI may be ordered to rule out other conditions that also cause facial pain. “Trigeminal neuralgia is often diagnosed incorrectly. It can be confused with dental problems, headache syndromes, temporal arteritis, sinusitis and tumors of the brain or the face,” Dr. Friedman said.
What is the best doctor to see for trigeminal neuralgia? ›
Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), and doctors trained in treating children who have brain and nervous system conditions (pediatric neurologists) diagnose and treat people who have trigeminal neuralgia.
What is the recovery time for trigeminal nerve surgery? ›
Most people are able to return to work and daily activities about a month after surgery. Although no procedure is guaranteed to cure trigeminal neuralgia, all three types of trigeminal neuralgia surgery have the potential to stop pain for many years, if not permanently.
What stops nerve pain immediately? ›
Painkillers. For severe nerve pain, powerful opioid painkillers can help. Studies have found that for many types of nerve pain, they are as effective as anticonvulsants or antidepressants. Unlike other treatments for nerve pain, they also work very quickly.
Signals travelling through this trigeminal nerve cause debilitating and life-altering shock-like facial pain that lasts from seconds to hours. Initial episodes may be mild, but can worsen over time if left untreated.
What is the life expectancy of someone with trigeminal neuralgia? ›
What Is the Life Expectancy for Trigeminal Neuralgia? Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic nerve pain disorder but it does not directly affect life expectancy and patients with the condition can live a normal life span.
What is the success rate of trigeminal neuralgia surgery? ›
While it may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to gain full relief from your trigeminal neuralgia symptoms, the overall success rate for GKRS is approximately 70-80 percent. Some of the benefits of GKRS include the very short recovery period, along with the non-invasive aspect of the procedure.
How do I know if my trigeminal nerve is damaged? ›
The injury can cause problems with chewing and speaking. The extent depends on where the nerve damage occurs. You may have ongoing numbness or facial pain in the area that the nerve serves. These symptoms are trigeminal neuropathy.
Does trigeminal neuralgia get progressively worse? ›
In some cases, the condition can be progressive, meaning that the attacks can get worse over time, with longer and more frequent episodes. In progressive TN, a person may feel pain all the time.
What are the symptoms of severe trigeminal neuralgia? ›
The pain can be in the teeth, lower jaw, upper jaw or cheek. Less commonly the pain can also be in the forehead or eye. After the most severe pain has subsided you may experience a slight ache or burning feeling. You may also have a constant throbbing, aching or burning sensation between attacks.
