Trigeminal neuralgia or TN is inflammation of trigeminal or 5th nerve, one of the most widely distributed nerves in the head. It is a type of neuropathic pain which causes intense facial pain. Trigeminal neuralgia is also known as tic douloureux.

2. What is Trigeminal Neuralgia
Tic douloureux, which is also termed as trigeminal neuralgia is
an intense stabbing pain to one side of the face. It appears from
one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve that supplies
sensation to the face. The pain caused by Tic Douloureux lasts
from a few seconds to a few minutes. It may be so severe that
you will be compelled to wince involuntarily, that is why the
term tic. Usually the individual neither faces any pain between
attacks nor dysfunction of the muscle of the face.

4. Causes of Tic Douloureux
The cause of tic douloureux is still not known. There are a
number of theories to explain why trigeminal nerve gets
affected. The most widely accepted theory is the compression
of the trigeminal nerve, usually by a blood vessel, causing it to
become inflamated. Due to this irritation the myelin sheath or
the outer covering of the nerve starts eroding over time. The
irritated nerve then becomes more volatile and randomly
instigates pain impulses. Tumors and bony abnormalities of the
skull may press on and irritate trigeminal nerve.

5. Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include an acute onset of
sharp, stabbing pain to one side of the face. It tends to begin at
the angle of the jaw and radiate along the junction lines;
between the ophthalmic branchV1 and maxillary branch V2, or
the maxillary branch V2 and the mandibular branch V3.
The pain is severe and described as an electric shock. It may be
made worse by light touch, chewing, or cold exposure in the
mouth.

6. How is Trigeminal Neuralgia
Diagnosed?
 Paroxysmal attacks of pain lasting from a fraction of a second to 2
minutes, affecting 1 or more divisions of the trigeminal nerve and
fulfilling criteria B and C.
 Pain has at least one of the following characteristics: (1) intense,
sharp, superficial or stabbing; or (2) precipitated from trigger areas
or by trigger factors
 Attacks stereotyped in the individual patient
 No clinically evident neurologic deficit
 Not attributed to another disorder

7. Treatment for Trigeminal
Neuralgia
 Surgical Evaluation for Trigeminal Neuralgia
 Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia
 Medical Therapy for Trigeminal Neuralgia
 Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia
 Radiofrequency Lesioning (RFL) for Trigeminal Neuralgia
 Clinical Trials for Trigeminal Neuralgia

8. For More Detail & Consultation
Please Visit
www.cnsneurosurgery.com.au