Trigeminal Neuralgia

One or more of these following patterns may appear among the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia: 

• Periodic episodes of excruciating, shooting, or stabbing pain that may seem electric shock-like 

• Pain that lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. Pain that comes with facial spasms. Bouts of several episodes lasting days, weeks, months, or longer. Some people experience periods of no pain. 

• The trigeminal nerve supplies the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, and, less frequently, the eye and forehead. Pain in these areas typically affects one side of the face at a time. Pain may be concentrated in one area or spread out in a wider pattern. Pain rarely occurs at night while sleeping. Attacks that become more frequent and severe over time. 

• Many people with trigeminal neuralgia report their pain as being intense, shooting, or like receiving an electric shock in their jaw, teeth, or gums. 

Book an appointment with your neurologist right away if you experience any of these symptoms. 

Primary Trigeminal neuralgia: 

• According to evidence, pressure on the trigeminal nerve around where it enters the brain stem—the lowest region of the brain that connects to the spinal cord—causes trigeminal neuralgia in up to 95% of instances. 

Secondary Trigeminal neuralgia: 

• The term "secondary trigeminal neuralgia" refers to trigeminal neuralgia that is brought on by another illness or disease, such as a tumor, a cyst, an arteriovenous malformation, multiple sclerosis (MS), a face injury, or damage after surgery, including dental surgery. 

A variety of triggers may set off the pain of trigeminal neuralgia: 

• Touching your face, shaving, drinking, eating, and brushing your teeth speaking, applying makeup, Light breeze blowing over your face A smile and a face wash.

To identify the underlying reasons of your disease and diagnose trigeminal neuralgia, your doctor may perform a variety of tests, including: 

• A neurological examination: Your doctor can pinpoint the precise location of the discomfort by touching and evaluating different portions of your face. Reflex testing can also assist your doctor in determining whether another condition or a compressed nerve is to blame for your symptoms. 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): To identify whether multiple sclerosis or a tumor is causing trigeminal neuralgia, your doctor might request an MRI scan of your head. When viewing the arteries and veins and highlighting blood flow, your doctor may occasionally inject a dye into a blood vessel. 

The first line of trigeminal neuralgia treatment is typically medication, while some patients may not require it. Your doctor will typically prescribe drugs to decrease or block the pain signals transmitted to your brain in order to treat trigeminal neuralgia.  

Medications such as: 

•  Anticonvulsants: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, valproate and phenytoin, clonazepam, topiramate, pregabalin and gabapentin 
• Antispasmodic agents: Muscle-relaxing agents such as baclofen 
• Botox injections: such as onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections. 

Surgical options for trigeminal neuralgia include: 

• Microvascular decompression. 
• Brain stereotactic radiosurgery (Gamma knife). 
• Glycerol injection 
• Balloon compression 
• Radiofrequency thermal lesioning 

Alternative medicines as: 

• Acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, and vitamin or nutritional therapy 

Before attempting an alternative treatment, be sure to see your neurologist because it can interact with your current therapies.