What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Also known as tic douloureux, Trigeminal Neuralgia causes an intense level of pain.
It is a condition that affects the trigeminal nerve (the 5th cranial nerve), one
of the largest nerves in the head. The trigeminal nerve is responsible for sending
impulses to the brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead and from around the eyes.
The main characteristics of Trigeminal Neuralgia are sudden, severe, electric shock-like
or stabbing pains that are typically felt on one side of the face. It may be so
intense that you wince involuntarily, hence the term tic (tic douloureux). These
attacks, which generally last several seconds and may be repeated one after the
other, can be triggered by any facial movement (touching the face, talking, brushing
teeth, chewing food, etc.). The attacks may come and go throughout the day and last
for days, weeks or months at a time, and then disappear for months or years.
The exact cause of Trigeminal Neuralgia is unknown. There are, however, certain
key factors (such as stress or physical nerve damage) that can trigger the onset
of these painful attacks. Nerve damage may occur as the nerve passes from the openings
in the skull (foramen) on their route to the muscles and tissue of the face. Any
damage to the nerve can cause the nerve cells shed the myelin sheath (a protective
and insulating coating). Without the insulation and protection of the myelin, information
from nerves is transmitted inefficiently, possibly resulting in weakness, sensory
loss or other neurologic dysfunction. In nearly all cases, an excessive burst of
nervous activity from the damaged trigeminal nerve causes these excruciating attacks.
Damage may be due to: -
- Physical compression of the nerve.
- A biochemical change in the nerve tissue.
- An abnormal blood vessel compressing the nerve as it exits from the brain.
Psychological stress can be the cause as well as the outcome of Trigeminal
Neuralgia. Patients have been known to report Trigeminal Neuralgia following
episodes major stress (eg. divorce, bereavement, loss of employment, etc.).
Who Is Affected by Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal Neuralgia is generally a disease of middle age or later life and
women are affected more often than men. Sufferers of multiple sclerosis are
affected much more frequently than the general population.
What Are the Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia?
- Sudden, severe, electric shock-like or stabbing pains that are typically felt on
one side of the face.
There are various treatments for Trigeminal Neuralgia. Please visit
Holistic-pages.com for details.
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