Trigeminal neuralgia :
Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensory information from the face to the brain. It can be Classic trigeminal neuralgia (CTN) ie,. sudden, severe, and recurring pain and typically affects one side of the face , symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia (STN) ie,. Pain is caused by an underlying medical condition and may affect both sides of the face and atypical trigeminal neuralgia. It occurs due to various factors and like compression or irritation of the trigeminal nerve, blood vessel abnormalities, tumors, multiple sclerosis, trauma or injury to the face or head, infections , dental problems etc.
Signs and symptoms include sudden, severe, and recurring pain in the face (typically on one side)which may be triggered by light touch or breeze, eating or drinking, talking or smiling, brushing teeth, numbness or tingling, weakness or fatigue, difficulty chewing or swallowing etc. Management is by identifying the cause and treating it which includes anticonvulsants , pain relievers, muscle relaxants, microvascular decompression, gamma knife radiosurgery, radiofrequency ablation and other supportive care.