Signs and Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia - Trigeminal Neuralgia Center

Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia

The signs and symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include:

Slight twinges of pain

Pain in areas of the face that are served by the trigeminal nerve including the cheeks, jaw, teeth, mouth, eyes and forehead

Pain on one side of the face

Severe shooting pain akin a burning, exploding or crushing sensation or an electric shock

Waves of pain lasting for up to few seconds or even minutes

Episodes of multiple attacks over a period of time, sometimes extending up to months

Attacks that increase in both frequency and intensity

Some of the factors that can trigger an attack include:

Smiling

Eating

Drinking

Brushing your teeth

Talking

Shaving

Yawning

Putting on makeup

Wind

The attacks usually affect only the side of the face that is served by the affected nerve. However, 10% - 12% of cases are bilateral, with both sides of the face being affected. This usually happens over a period of time, often years, as the pain spreads through the other nerve branches. This spread is suggestive of a systemic development like multiple sclerosis or a cranial tumor.

Trigeminal neuralgia sufferers rarely have pain attacks while sleeping. This may be despite the fact that a trigger point on the face may be in contact with a surface like a pillow. Why this happens is a mystery to medical professionals.

References

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001751/
James K Liu, Ronald I Apfelbaum, Treatment of trigeminal neuralgia, Neurosurgery Clinics of North America, Volume 15, Issue 3, July 2004, Pages 319-334, ISSN 1042-3680, 10.1016/j.nec.2004.03.002.