Trigeminal Neuralgia

Also called: Tic douloureux, TN

Summary

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a type of chronic pain that affects your face. It causes extreme, sudden burning or shock-like pain. It usually affects one side of the face. Any vibration on your face, even from talking, can set it off. The condition may come and go, disappearing for days or even months. But the longer you have it, the less often it goes away.

TN usually affects people over 50, especially women. The cause is probably a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. Tumors and multiple sclerosis can also cause TN, but in some cases the cause is unknown.

There is no specific test for TN. It can be hard to diagnose, since many other conditions can cause facial pain. Treatment options include medicines, surgery, and complementary techniques.

NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Learn More

Trigeminal Neuralgia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Trigeminal Neuralgia (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
Trigeminal Neuralgia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Trigeminal Neuralgia (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Patient Handouts

Stereotactic radiosurgery - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Trigeminal neuralgia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Topic Image

National Institutes of Health

The primary NIH organization for research on Trigeminal Neuralgia is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Disclaimers

MedlinePlus links to health information from the National Institutes of Health and other federal government agencies. MedlinePlus also links to health information from non-government Web sites. See our disclaimer about external links and our quality guidelines.