What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Disease description:
I've noticed that my head has been hurting constantly during this short period, and when it gets severe, I even have to take medication for relief. A friend told me that it might be trigeminal neuralgia. Could you please explain what trigeminal neuralgia is?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by paroxysmal severe pain occurring within the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve. This pain is usually unilateral, more common on the right side than the left, and predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly individuals.
The pain associated with trigeminal neuralgia varies in nature and may resemble sharp cutting pain, burning pain, stabbing pain, or electric shock-like tearing pain. It is typically sudden in onset and cessation, lasting from several seconds to one minute per episode, and tends to occur in cycles.
Trigeminal neuralgia can be classified into primary and secondary types. The exact cause of primary trigeminal neuralgia remains incompletely understood, but it may be related to vascular compression at the root of the trigeminal nerve. Secondary trigeminal neuralgia is commonly caused by intracranial lesions such as inflammation, tumors, or vascular malformations that compress or irritate the trigeminal nerve.
Trigeminal neuralgia significantly impacts patients' quality of life. During episodes of pain, patients may be unable to perform normal daily activities such as eating, washing the face, or brushing teeth, and may even develop psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial for patients with trigeminal neuralgia.
