Living with Trigeminal neuralgia
A nerve condition that causes stabbing, electric-shock-like pain in part of the face.
Understanding Trigeminal neuralgia
The pain lasts seconds to a few minutes and is usually on one side of the face. Facial muscle spasms can come with the pain. It can begin at a variety of ages.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Stabbing or electric-shock-like face pain
- Lower jaw pain
- Pins and needles feeling (paresthesia)
- Pain from light touch (allodynia)
- Facial muscle spasms
- Trouble eating
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Facial Pain Association and The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Facial Pain Association, The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Facial Pain Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The pain may come from a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve, from multiple sclerosis, or from a tumor or cyst pressing on the nerve. GARD says in some cases the cause is unknown.
Also known as: fothergill's neuralgia; neuralgia of trigeminal nerve; tic douloureux; tn - trigeminal neuralgia; trifacial neuralgia; trifocal neuralgia
Patient organizations
- Facial Pain AssociationTrigeminal neuralgia · United States
- Ben's FriendsTrigeminal neuralgia · United States
- The Foundation for Peripheral NeuropathyPeripheral neuropathy · United States
- Neuropathy Action FoundationPeripheral neuropathy · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Trigeminal neuralgia.
Explore research for Trigeminal neuralgia
Explore actively recruiting Trigeminal neuralgia studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Trigeminal neuralgia with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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