Hong Kong Neurosurgical Associates 香港腦神經外科顧問中心

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Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that

affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from

your face to your brain. In this condition, even mild

stimulation of your face — such as brushing your teeth or

putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating

pain. These pain attacks are often described as severe,

shooting or jabbing pain that may feel like an electric

shock, over the areas supplied by the branches of the

trigeminal nerve. Pain affects mainly one side of the face,

though in rare cases, it can affect both sides of the face.

Usually, the problem is due to the contact between a

normal blood vessel — either an artery or a vein —

and the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain.

This contact irritates the nerve and causes it to

malfunction.

Medications and surgery are common strategies of treatment. Commonly experienced

side effects of drug therapy includes dizziness, drowsiness, forgetfulness,

unsteadiness, and nausea. In addition, drugs do not always remain effective over time,

so higher and higher doses or a greater number of medications taken concurrently may

be required. Surgical options for trigeminal neuralgia include microvascular

decompression, stereotactic radiosurgery and radiofrequency thermal lesioning. These

surgical options carry different pain-relieve rate and recurrence rate, your doctor

should be consulted for further details.