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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.
You may initially experience short, mild attacks, but trigeminal neuralgia can progress, causing longer, more frequent bouts of searing pain. Trigeminal neuralgia affects women more often than men, and it's more likely to occur in people who are older than 50.
Because of the variety of treatment options available, having trigeminal neuralgia doesn't necessarily mean you're doomed to a life of pain. Doctors usually can effectively manage trigeminal neuralgia with medications, injections or surgery.
- Trigeminal neuralgia fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/detail_trigeminal_neuralgia.htm. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Bajwa ZH. Trigeminal neuralgia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Sohur US. Trigeminal neuralgia. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/183930156-4/0/2088/674.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05609-0..00029-0--sc0175_13740. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Krafft RM. Trigeminal neuralgia. American Family Physician. 2008;77:1291.
- AAN and EFNS guideline on diagnosing and treating trigeminal neuralgia. St. Paul, Minn.: American Academy of Neurology (AAN). http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0601/p1001.html. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Young RF. Trigeminal neuralgia. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00014-4--sc0075&uniq=183930156&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&sid=954069268#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..00014-4--sc0075%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-1-4160-6642-2. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Nerve blocks. Radiological Society of North America. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=nerveblock#part_nine. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Singla A. Trigeminal neuralgia. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/184337872-8/955217002/1678/94.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50092-4--cesec12_1483. Accessed Feb. 18, 2010.
- Swanson JW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 1, 2010.
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