The best doctor to see for trigeminal neuralgia is a neurologist as they are trained in the nervous system and brain.
To diagnose trigeminal neuralgia a neurologist will do a physical exam of your face and take your medical history and ask you about the symptoms you're having.
To treat trigeminal neuralgia the neurologist will often prescribe medications and in more severe cases they will refer you to a neurosurgeon.
The life expectancy of someone with trigeminal neuralgia is the same as someone without trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia does not shorten your life expectancy although the chronic pain and recurrent facial pain is often life altering and debilitating.
Trigeminal neuralgia does not go away although the symptoms can be managed and lead to periods of pain free remission.
However even with treatment for trigeminal neuralgia the pain can and often does eventually come back with a potential for increased intensity of the pain.
Trigeminal neuralgia is considered a chronic condition that cannot be cured.
The root cause of trigeminal neuralgia is believed to be related to a malfunction or compression of your trigeminal nerve although it's not known for sure what actually causes trigeminal neuralgia.
The most common age for trigeminal neuralgia is 50 years of age and older.
Trigeminal neuralgia is more common in females than males and it can sometimes affect a person under 40.
However if someone under 40 gets trigeminal neuralgia it can be linked to conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Trigeminal neuralgia can affect anyone at any age including infants.
Trigeminal neuralgia feels like an electric shock that is sudden, severe and along with sharp pain in the face.
The pain with trigeminal neuralgia can be intense enough that it is difficult to do anything while the trigeminal neuralgia is occurring.
A red flag for trigeminal neuralgia is pain in your eye socket, nose and forehead and sensory changes and sensory abnormalities in your trigeminal area.
Pain that is only in the ophthalmic division of your trigeminal nerve or pain which is bilateral are red flags of trigeminal neuralgia.
Other red flags of trigeminal neuralgia are facial muscle weakness, a history of skin or oral lesions that can spread perineurally.
Progressive facial nerve palsy or immuno compromise or a history of facial actinopathy is also a red flag of trigeminal neuralgia.
The symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include sharp, stabbing facial pain which is often episodic.
Trigeminal neuralgia can also cause other symptoms which include.
Pain attacks that can worsen over time.
Having persistent background facial pain in addition to pain attacks.
And a series of episodes which last for weeks or months that can be followed by pain free periods.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder which is also called tic douloureux that affects your trigeminal nerve which is the main sensory nerve in your face.
The cause of trigeminal neuralgia is not known although it is believed to be related to a malfunction or compression of your trigeminal nerve.
The main symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is the sudden attack of severe, sharp or shooting facial pain that lasts from a couple of seconds to around 2 minutes.
The pain with trigeminal neuralgia is like an electric shock and excruciating and the attacks can be severe enough that you're unable to do anything while the attacks with trigeminal neuralgia are happening.
Applying heat to the affected area can provide you some relief from the pain with trigeminal neuralgia.
You can press a hot water bottle or hot compress to the painful hear.
A beanbag or warm wet washcloth heated in the microwave will work.
Taking a hot shower or bath can also help with the pain relief from trigeminal neuralgia.