Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia

overview

Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that causes painful sensations similar to an electric shock on one side of the face. This chronic pain condition affects the trigeminal nerve, which transmits sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face - such as brushing your teeth or applying makeup - can cause excruciating pain.

You may initially experience short, mild attacks. But trigeminal neuralgia can progress and cause longer, more frequent bouts of burning pain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects women more often than men and is more likely to occur in people over 50.

Because of the variety of treatment options available, trigeminal neuralgia doesn't necessarily mean you're doomed to a life of pain. Doctors can usually effectively treat trigeminal neuralgia with medication, injections, or surgery.

Symptoms

Branches of the trigeminal nerve

Branches of the trigeminal nerve

Trigeminal neuralgia involves pain in an area of ​​the face that is supplied by one or more of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms may include one or more of these patterns:

• Episoden von starken, schießenden oder stechenden Schmerzen, die sich wie ein elektrischer Schlag anfühlen können
• Spontane Schmerzattacken oder Attacken, die durch Dinge wie das Berühren des Gesichts, Kauen, Sprechen oder Zähneputzen ausgelöst werden
• Schmerzattacken von wenigen Sekunden bis zu mehreren Minuten
• Schmerzen, die bei Gesichtskrämpfen auftreten
• Anfälle mehrerer Attacken, die Tage, Wochen, Monate oder länger dauern – manche Menschen haben Phasen, in denen sie keine Schmerzen verspüren
• Schmerzen in Bereichen, die vom Trigeminusnerv versorgt werden, einschließlich Wange, Kiefer, Zähne, Zahnfleisch, Lippen oder seltener Auge und Stirn
• Schmerzen, die jeweils eine Seite des Gesichts betreffen
• Der Schmerz konzentriert sich auf einen Punkt oder breitet sich in einem breiteren Muster aus
• Selten auftretende Schmerzen nachts beim Schlafen
• Angriffe, die mit der Zeit häufiger und intensiver werden

When to go to the doctor?

If you have facial pain, especially persistent or recurring pain, or pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medications, contact your doctor.

Causes

Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is caused by dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve.

In trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, the function of the trigeminal nerve is disrupted. Typically, the problem is contact between a normal blood vessel - in this case, an artery or vein - and the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain. This contact puts pressure on the nerve and causes it to malfunction.

While compression by a blood vessel is one of the most common causes of trigeminal neuralgia, there are also many other possible causes. Some may be related to multiple sclerosis or a similar disease that damages the myelin sheath that protects certain nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia can also be caused by a tumor that compresses the trigeminal nerve.

Some people may develop trigeminal neuralgia due to a brain lesion or other abnormalities. In other cases, surgical injuries, a stroke, or facial trauma may be responsible for trigeminal neuralgia.

Triggers

A variety of triggers can trigger the pain of trigeminal neuralgia, including:

• Rasieren
• Dein Gesicht berühren
• Essen
• Trinken
• Zähne putzen
• Reden
• Schminken
• Brise weht leicht über dein Gesicht
• Lächelnd
• Dein Gesicht waschen

Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia

Sources:

1. Ho CC, et al. Trigeminusneuralgie. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Abgerufen am 30. September 2021.
2. Merkblatt Trigeminusneuralgie. Nationales Institut für neurologische Erkrankungen und Schlaganfälle. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Cargiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Trigeminus-Neuralgia-Fact-Sheet. Abgerufen am 30. September 2021.
3. Jameson JL, et al., Hrsg. Trigeminusneuralgie, Bell-Lähmung und andere Erkrankungen der Hirnnerven. In: Harrisons Prinzipien der Inneren Medizin. 20. Aufl. McGraw-Hill; 2018. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Abgerufen am 30. September 2021.
4. Fragen Sie MayoExpert. Trigeminusneuralgie. Mayo-Klinik; 2021.
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