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Trigeminal Neuralgia

Background

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Tic Douloureux

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN) is an extremely severe facial pain that tends to come and go unpredictably in sudden shock-like attacks. The pain is often described as stabbing, shooting, excruciating, burning, extremely strong. The pain usually lasts for a few seconds, but there can be many bursts of pain in quick succession. It is a chronic disorder of the trigeminal nerve (or fifth cranial nerve) and affects about 8 people in 100,000.

The Trigeminal Nerve has three branches (or divisions):

  • The upper branch (Ophthalmic) which runs above the eye, forehead and front of the head
  • The middle branch (Maxillary) which runs through the cheek, upper jaw, teeth and gums, side of the nose
  • The lower branch (Mandibular) which runs through the lower jaw, teeth and gums

TN can involve one or more branches. Most frequently, the middle and lower branches are affected. It usually affects people over 50 years old, but many cases have been reported in young adults, and very rarely among children.

It affects women more than men, and it is more often on the right side of the face. It is not hereditary.

What are the symptoms? View What are the symptoms?

Medical text written November 2007 by Professor Joanna Zakrzewska, Professor of Pain in Relation to Oral Medicine and Honorary Consultant in Oral Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London NHS Trust, London, UK.

 

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