Imagine feeling a sharp, electric-like pain in your face that comes out of nowhere, making simple things like eating or talking unbearable.
This is what living with trigeminal neuralgia can feel like.
Though it’s a rare condition, affecting about 4 to 5 in every 100,000 people annually, trigeminal neuralgia causes severe and unexpected pain that can be life-changing.
In this blog, you will learn about the cause, common symptoms and treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia happens when the nerve that carries sensations from your face to your brain, called the trigeminal nerve, becomes irritated or pressured.
When this nerve is triggered, it sends intense pain signals to your brain. This pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes, and it often comes in waves, with breaks in between, but the fear of the next attack can be overwhelming.
Common Symptoms
- Sudden, sharp pain on one side of the face, often described as electric shocks or stabbing sensations
- Pain that lasts from a few seconds up to a couple of minutes
- Episodes that come and go, sometimes lasting days, weeks, or months
- Pain triggered by things like brushing teeth, eating, or even a light touch on the face
- Anxiety or fear of when the next attack will happen
These symptoms can severely impact daily life, making even the most routine activities feel daunting.
How is Trigeminal Neuralgia Diagnosed?
Getting the right diagnosis is key to managing trigeminal neuralgia.
Doctors usually start by asking about your symptoms and doing a physical exam. In some cases, imaging tests like an MRI may be used to check if something, like a blood vessel pressing on the nerve, could be causing the problem.
Treatment Options
While there are treatments available, they don’t always work for everyone, and long-term relief can be hard to achieve. Some of the most common options include:
- Medications: Drugs like anticonvulsants (commonly used for seizures) are often prescribed to calm the nerve down and reduce the pain. While these medications can be effective for many, some individuals may experience side effects like fatigue or confusion, and their effectiveness may decrease over time in certain cases.
- Surgery: For those who don’t respond well to medication, surgery may be an option. Procedures like microvascular decompression aim to reduce pressure on the nerve. However, even with surgery, the pain may return, and there are always risks involved with any operation.
- Alternative Therapies: Some people explore other ways to manage their pain, such as acupuncture or avoiding triggers that set off their attacks, but results can vary from person to person.
While these treatments can help people manage their symptoms, it is important to understand that not every option works for everyone and achieving long-term relief may require a combination of approaches tailored to individual need.
A Non-Invasive Approach with Lasting Results
At the Brisbane Headache and Migraine Clinic, we understand how challenging it can be to live with trigeminal neuralgia.
Our head clinicians use the Watson Headache Approach, a non-invasive method that has shown great success in treating conditions like trigeminal neuralgia. This approach doesn’t rely on medication or surgery, offering a gentle and effective way to manage and often reduce the pain caused by this condition.
If you or a loved one is suffering from trigeminal neuralgia, don’t wait for the pain to take over your life.
Book an appointment with us today or call 1800 432 322 to learn more about how we can help you find relief without the need for invasive treatments and take the first step toward a pain-free future.
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References
Burchiel KJ. Trigeminal neuralgia: new advances. Neurosurgery. 2002;50(5):988-989.
Gronseth G, Cruccu G, Alksne J, et al. Practice parameter: The diagnostic evaluation and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (an evidence-based review). Neurology. 2008;71(15):1183-1190.
Maarbjerg S, Gozalov A, Olesen J, Bendtsen L. Trigeminal neuralgia–a prospective systematic study of clinical characteristics in 158 patients. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain. 2014;54(10):1574-1582.
