Trigeminal neuralgia is inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, causing intense facial pain. Though it can affect people of any age, trigeminal neuralgia tends to afflict people older than 60 years of age. It affects the right side of the face five times more often than the left.
What causes trigeminal neuralgia?
Most often, the cause of trigeminal neuralgia is idiopathic, meaning the cause is not known. There are some instances when the nerve can be compressed by nearby blood vessels, aneurysms, or tumors.
What are the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia?
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include an acute onset of sharp, stabbing pain to one side of the face. It tends to begin at the angle of the jaw and radiate along the junction lines; between the ophthalmic branchV1 and maxillary branch V2, or the maxillary branch V2 and the mandibular branch V3.
Trigeminal Neuralgia could be confused with dental pain and lead to multiple extractions.The pain is severe and described as an electric shock. It may be made worse by light touch, chewing, or cold exposure in the mouth.
What is the treatment for trigeminal neuralgia?
•Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia most often is treated with good success using a single anticonvulsant medication.
•Glycerol injection. During this procedure, your doctor inserts a needle through your face and into an opening in the base of your skull. This procedure often relieves pain.