If you experience intense pain as if electricity is passing through your face every time you eat, your quality of life is likely to decline significantly. This condition is called trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is most commonly seen in women in their 50s and 60s. We explored its causes and treatment options.

 

◇ When the trigeminal nerve is compressed by a blood vessel, trigeminal neuralgia occurs. The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve among the twelve cranial nerves and is divided into three branches: the ophthalmic nerve, maxillary nerve, and mandibular nerve. It functions as a sensory nerve, with each branch responsible for one-third of facial sensation, including pain and touch. The name "trigeminal nerve" comes from the fact that the nerve splits into three branches.

Trigeminal neuralgia refers to a condition characterized by severe pain along one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve. When the trigeminal nerve is compressed by blood vessels such as arteries or veins for an extended period, the nerve becomes sensitive, leading to pain.

 

◇Recurrent pain, suspected trigeminal neuralgia, not toothache The main symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia are stabbing pain in the face or a sensation similar to an electric shock.

If you experience severe pain when chewing food or talking, and your face twitches, you should suspect trigeminal neuralgia. In the early stages, there may be facial numbness or weakness in the chewing muscles, but later, intense pain recurs repeatedly for a few seconds to about two minutes.

Sometimes trigeminal neuralgia is mistaken for toothache. The areas where pain occurs are similar, which can lead to confusion, but in the case of toothache, the pain is severe during sleep and occurs intermittently. In contrast, trigeminal neuralgia recurs periodically over a few seconds to minutes, and the pain persists even after dental treatment.

 

◇ Microvascular decompression surgery is a treatment that fundamentally removes the cause of trigeminal neuralgia and is mainly divided into medication, procedures, and surgery. Initial treatment is started with medication, and procedural therapies such as radiofrequency trigeminal nerve root ablation and balloon compression can be performed. Gamma knife radiosurgery, which irradiates the trigeminal nerve with high-dose radiation, is also available. The main treatment method known for trigeminal neuralgia is 'microvascular decompression surgery.' This involves making a 4-5 cm incision behind the ear, inserting a surgical sponge between the trigeminal nerve and the brain blood vessels, and then separating the nerve from the blood vessels. Microvascular decompression is a treatment that removes the fundamental cause of trigeminal neuralgia, offering excellent effectiveness and helping to prevent recurrence. However, since it involves treating brain nerves, it is essential to consult thoroughly with medical professionals before surgery and to receive treatment from experienced medical staff.

 

Meanwhile, in less than 10% of trigeminal neuralgia cases, the condition is caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve due to specific diseases such as brain tumors or cerebral aneurysms. Therefore, it is important to first identify the exact cause through MRI scans and other tests.

 

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Third-degree pain?

I have been struggling with a headache since yesterday until this morning.

Really, this headache

Trigeminal neuralgia

The second and third pages.

I'm feeling very uncomfortable right now.