Trigeminal Neuralgia

Applies to: Head

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face originating from the trigeminal nerve. Common signs of TN is pain on one side of the face that occurs as often as a few hundred times a day and can last up to a few minutes. It is estimated that 1 in 15,000 people suffer from TN. Most often, symptoms are found in people over 50.

Some common signs of trigeminal neuralgia include:

Only one side of the face is affected (though about 10 percent of cases are bilateral)
Episodes can last from several seconds to a few minutes
Episodes may occur as often as a few hundred times a day
Condition is cyclical, and remissions can occur which can last months or years
Area on the face that is described as so sensitive that even an air current or simple activities like talking or shaving can trigger an episode
The pain is often described as shooting, sharp, stabbing, or like electric shocks

Applies to: Head

Conditions And Treatments

Main conditions

Main treatments