Every year, around 15,000 individuals develop trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition that creates hyper-sensitivity in the face and causes routine tasks to become intensely painful. Pain from trigeminal neuralgia can be triggered during such daily activities as brushing your teeth, applying makeup, shaving, talking or even smiling. In most cases, trigeminal neuralgia is a “unilateral” condition, meaning it only affects one side of your face. Speak with a Bayhealth neurology expert about treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
The trigeminal nerve carries sensory signals between your face and brain, starting around the top of your ear and leading to your eye, cheek and jaw. When too much pressure is placed on the nerve—by a blood vessel or tumor, for example—it can cause gradual damage to the nerve’s protective covering, called the myelin sheath. As trigeminal neuralgia develops, the condition prevents the nerve from properly functioning, resulting in pain and discomfort.
Signs and Symptoms
While trigeminal neuralgia can cause muscle spasms, throbbing and numbness in the face, the most common symptom is intense pain that gets worse if not properly treated. The pain of this condition is often described as an electrical jolt or stabbing sensation in the cheek or jaw. Because trigeminal neuralgia causes extreme sensitivity around the nerve, pain can be triggered by anything from washing your face to chewing food. Symptoms typically last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Severe cases can last hours or days.
Risk Factors and Prevention
While the cause of trigeminal neuralgia is not always clear, the following factors are known to increase the risk of developing the condition.
- Age: Trigeminal neuralgia most commonly occurs in individuals aged 50 and older.
- Gender: Women are more likely to develop trigeminal neuralgia than men.
- Other Conditions: Neurological conditions that cause damage to the protective covering around nerves can lead to trigeminal neuralgia, including multiple sclerosis and stroke.
How We Diagnose Trigeminal Neuralgia
Our neurology experts use the following procedures to diagnose trigeminal neuralgia.
- Physical Exam: In many cases, our experts can accurately diagnose trigeminal neuralgia by examining your physical symptoms.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body.
Treatment Options
Most cases of trigeminal neuralgia can be managed through conservative treatment methods such as prescription medication. Anti-seizure drugs like carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine, or muscle relaxers like baclofen, are known to relieve symptoms. Severe cases of trigeminal neuralgia may require surgical attention to relieve the pressure on the nerve.
A case of trigeminal neuralgia that is caused by an underlying condition could be resolved by treating that condition. Whether an injury, disorder or disease, identifying and treating the contributing issue can alleviate the symptoms of neuralgia. Speak with a neurology expert at Bayhealth about treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia.