Early Signs of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe pain attacks in your face. It occurs when your trigeminal nerve is irritated or damaged. Various treatment options can help alleviate pain, ranging from medications to surgical procedures. 

Table of content

• What is trigeminal neuralgia?
• Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms
• Trigeminal neuralgia causes
• How is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?
• Trigeminal neuralgia treatment
• Can trigeminal neuralgia kill you?
• Exercises to relieve trigeminal neuralgia
• Does trigeminal neuralgia go away?
• Trigeminal neuralgia pain scale
• Conclusion

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is also called tic douloureux. Trigeminal neuralgia causes intense facial pain that can disrupt your everyday activities. It usually happens when a blood vessel puts pressure on your trigeminal nerve close to your brainstem. This nerve provides sensation to your head and face. Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuropathic pain. This is a life-alerting condition. Activities like talking, chewing, smiling, and brushing your teeth can trigger brief bouts of intense pain, making trigeminal neuralgia both an emotional and physical condition. It is chronic, but trigeminal neuralgia treatments can help manage your symptoms. 

Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms

Early signs of Trigeminal Neuralgia include intense pain in your face; it usually affects one side of the face. The pain can feel like an electric shock or stabbing sensation. During episodes of TN, you may also have spasms of the facial muscles. These sensations may be felt when you are not having a pain attack: 

• Throbbing
• Burning 
• Numbness 
• Dull achiness. 

Have a closer look at the following forms of TN depending on how you experience symptoms:

• Paroxysmal TN: The attacks can be severe, stabbing, painful and intermittent. You may have pain or a burning sensation in your face during an attack that lasts a few seconds to two minutes. Between attacks you will have pain free intervals; this can last for up to two hours. 
• TN with continuous pain: This type of pain is less painful, but more frequent. You may have persistent pain and suffer from aches and pain. 

TN is a unilateral condition, which means it only affects one side of your face. In rare cases, it may affect both sides of your face but not at the same time. In some cases, it may get worse over time. 

Trigeminal neuralgia causes

In general, when the trigeminal nerve is damaged or compressed, Trigeminal neuralgia occurs. Healthcare providers categorise this condition depending on the specific cause:

• Primary TN: This type occurs when a blood vessel pushes on part of the trigeminal nerve root. 
• Secondary TN: It occurs when another condition affects or damages your trigeminal nerve, such as a tumour, multiple sclerosis, or arteriovenous malformation. Younger people with this condition often experience pain on both sides of their faces. 
• Idiopathic TN: It is diagnosed when there is no clear cause of your facial pain after various diagnostic tests. 

How is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?

You can get in touch with GP Glenroy if you experience any signs. They will ask about your medical history and signs. They will do a physical exam of your neck and head area. Depending on the following factors, a diagnosis can be done:

·         The specific type of pain you experience.

·         The exact spot on your face where pain occurs.

·         Which actions or activities trigger pain.

Trigeminal neuralgia treatment

Healthcare providers use a combination of surgery, medications, and other therapies to treat trigeminal neuralgia. 

• Healthcare providers may recommend surgery if medications don’t work to manage symptoms
• You may be recommended to opt for other treatment options, such as acupuncture, yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, or psychotherapy. 

Can trigeminal neuralgia kill you?

Trigeminal neuralgia is not a life-threatening condition; instead, it is a life-alerting condition. 

Exercises to relieve trigeminal neuralgia

There are no direct workouts that treat trigeminal neuralgia, but some exercises can relieve this condition, including gentle neck stretches, facial relaxation, and low-impact aerobic exercise. 

Does trigeminal neuralgia go away?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition that won’t go away permanently on its own. But the pain may vanish for a while; it intends to return and often worsens over time. 

Trigeminal neuralgia pain scale

The maximum or high level of pain can be 10 on a 10-point rating scale. Patients often describe it as a sharp jolt, electric shock, or stabbing knife sensation.

Conclusion

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a condition which can significantly affect person’s daily activities. However, there are various treatment options available. If you notice any signs, you can speak to doctors at Magnus Medical Centre Glenroy.

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