What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition that causes extreme facial pain. With unpredictable attacks followed by increasingly brief periods of remission, trigeminal neuralgia is acknowledged by many in the medical field as the most painful condition in existence.
Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include sudden, severe, electric shock-like spasms or stabbing pain on one side of the face that last several seconds.
Pain is often around the eye, cheek or lower part of the face and can be triggered by everyday occurrences such as laughing, drinking, chewing, brushing teeth, talking or facial touching. If left untreated, the disease tends to worsen overtime.
Diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia
There is no one test or scan that diagnoses trigeminal neuralgia. A cluster of symptoms identifies the condition. In rare cases, a tumor can cause trigeminal pain which is diagnosed through an imaging procedure like CT or MRI.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Online Presentation
Dr. Dong Kim, director of the Mischer Neuroscience Institute, recorded an in-depth online presentation about diagnosis and treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia. This video is recommended for patients and caregivers affected by trigeminal neuralgia. View the fifty minute presentation below.