Trigeminal neuralgia is an excruciating facial pain. At first, the attacks may be mild and random, developing into longer, more frequent and shocking jolts of pain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects more women than men and normally after the age of 50. Treatments are available to relieve the suffering of this affliction.
Causes
The trigeminal nerve relays signals from the brain to your face. When this nerve becomes compressed or damaged, pain occurs. Compression may be caused by tumors or blood vessels lengthening as you age and coming to rest on the nerve. Damage to nerves from multiple sclerosis may also cause trigeminal neuralgia.
Symptoms
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia will include stabbing or jabbing pain which feels like electrical shocks that last several seconds. Pain affects one side of the face at a time and may come and go throughout the day. The pain can last days, weeks or months and disappear for the same amount of time. Pain will focus on certain areas of the face where the trigeminal nerve is located including the jaw, cheek, lips, gums and in some cases the forehead and eyes.
Diagnosis
No single test can determine trigeminal neuralgia, so your doctor will make note of your symptoms and medical history. He will touch your face in areas of the trigeminal nerve and other places on your face to determine if pain is localized to the nerve path. An MRI scan of the head will determine if neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis is causing the trigeminal nerve pain. A magnetic resonance angiography involves a dye injected into your bloodstream and allows any blood vessel or compression problems of the trigeminal nerve to be shown more clearly in imaging.
Triggers
Your doctor may ask if you experience certain triggers that are associated with trigeminal neuralgia. These triggers of facial pain include drinking, eating, brushing teeth, putting on makeup, shaving, smiling, and stroking or touching your face. These triggers and the areas on your face where pain is focused will help your doctor in diagnosis.
Treatment
Anticonvulsants such as Carbatrol and Dilantin block pain signals from the brain and are the most common treatment for trigeminal neuralgia. Muscle relaxants such as baclofen may be used in conjunction with the anticonvulsants. An alcohol injection into the areas of your face experiencing pain will give temporary pain relief. Surgery procedures would include either stopping the nerve from being compressed or damaging the nerve to keep it from sending pain signals. Radiation, severing the nerve or sending electrical currents to the nerve will cause it to malfunction and stop sending signals to the brain. There is the chance of temporary or permanent numbness in the face after these procedures.
Tags: your face, trigeminal nerve, trigeminal neuralgia, areas your, areas your face
