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Trigeminal Neuralgia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Trigeminal (try-JEM-uh-nul) neuralgia (noor-AL-guh) is a long-term problem marked by sudden attacks of facial pain. The length of the attacks ranges from a few seconds to several minutes. Attacks may occur many times a day or only a few times a month or year. The problem usually affects men older than 40 years of age. It is also called tic douloureux (doll-uh-RUEZ).

Causes

The pain occurs in the trigeminal nerve, a major nerve in the face. Attacks can be triggered by touching, stroking, or shaving your face, brushing your teeth, chewing, yawning, or being exposed to a cold wind.

Signs/Symptoms

The only symptom is severe, knife-like pain in the jaw or cheek--most often on the right side of the face.

Care

Muscle-relaxing medicine may help prevent the attacks. If medical treatment does not help, you may need surgery.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

  • Take the prescribed medication exactly as directed.
  • To help prevent attacks:
    • Chew on the unaffected side of the mouth.
    • Avoid touching your face.
    • Avoid blasts of hot or cold air.
    • To avoid the need for shaving, men may wish to grow a beard.

Call Your Doctor If...

  • Pain is unbearable and your medicine isn't helping.
  • You develop any new, unexplained symptoms.
  • You have problems that may be related to the medicine you are taking.
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