Trigeminal neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia is a disorder that makes one side of the face experience pain that feels like an electric shock. The trigeminal nerve, which transmits feeling from your face to your brain, is impacted by this chronic pain syndrome. Trigeminal neuralgia patients may experience unbearable pain when even minor facial stimulation, such as tooth brushing or applying makeup, occurs.
Trigeminal neuralgia can result from a number of conditions, but it usually happens when a blood vessel puts pressure on a nerve close to the brain stem. Although it's not as prevalent, this illness can also be brought on by a lesion or tumor that compresses your nerves. You could experience face nerve pain that is comparable to the signs of trigeminal neuralgia if your trigeminal nerve is damaged due to oral or sinus surgery, a stroke, or facial trauma.
In addition to conducting a physical external examination of your head and neck region, including your ears, mouth, teeth, and temporomandibular joint, your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history (TMJ). They'll probably base their diagnosis on a few different things, including:
The doctor might also perform a neurological examination that includes testing your reflexes and pain tolerance as well as looking at how your motor system and brain's nerves operate.
The treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia include medications like anticoagulants, antidepressants, etc., surgery, microvascular decompression, and stereotactic radiosurgery.
This condition can also be approached with yoga, creative visualization, aromatherapy, meditation, acupuncture, vitamin therapy, nutritional therapy, etc.