Trigeminal neuralgia (Suicide Disease)
Trigeminal neuralgia, tic douloureux (Suicide Disease or Fothergill's disease) is a neuropathic disorder characterized by episodes of intense pain in the face, originating from the trigeminal nerve. One, two, or all three branches of the nerve may be affected.
Trigeminal neuralgia is a long-term pain disorder that affects the Trigeminal nerve. It is a form of neuropathic pain. There are two main types:
1. Typical Trigeminal neuralgia
2. Atypical Trigeminal neuralgia
The typical form results in episodes of severe, sudden, shock-like pain in one side of the face that lasts for seconds to a few minutes. Groups of these episodes can occur over a few hours. The atypical form results in a constant burning pain that is less severe. Episodes may be triggered by any touch to the face. Both forms may occur in the same person. It is regarded to be one of the most painful disorders known to medicine, and often result in depression.
Trigeminal neuralgia symptoms:
- Severe pain, shooting or jabbing pain feels like an electric shock
- Spontaneous attacks of pain or attacks triggered by things such as touching the face, chewing, speaking, or brushing teeth
- Bouts of pain lasting from a few seconds to several minutes
- Several attacks lasting days, weeks months, or longer, some people have periods when they experience no pain.
- Constant aching, burning feeling that may occur before it evolves into the spasm-like pain of trigeminal neuralgia
- pain in areas supplied by the trigeminal nerve, including the cheek, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, or less often the eye and forehead.
- Pain affecting one side of the face at a time, though may rarely affect both sides of the face.
- Pain focused in one or spread in a wider pattern
- Attacks that become more frequent and intense over time.
The exact cause is unknown but believed to involve the loss of the myelin of the trigeminal nerve. This might occur due to compression from a blood vessel as the nerve exits the brain stem, multiple sclerosis, stroke, or trauma. Less common causes include a tumor or arteriovenous malformation. It is a type of nerve pain.
Causes:
In Trigeminal neuralgia also called tic douloureux, the Trigeminal nerve's function is disrupted. Usually, the problem is contact between a normal blood vessel- in this case, an artery or a vein, and the trigeminal nerve at the base of your brain. This contact puts pressure on the nerve and causes it to malfunction.
Trigeminal neuralgia can occur as a result of aging, or it can be related to multiple sclerosis or a similar disorder that damages the myelin sheath protecting certain nerves. Trigeminal neuralgia also is caused by a tumor compressing the trigeminal nerve.
Some people may experience Trigeminal neuralgia due to a brain lesion or other abnormalities. In other cases, surgical injuries, stroke, or facial trauma may be responsible for Trigeminal neuralgia.
Triggers:
- Shaving
- Eating
- Touching your face
-Drinking
- Putting on makeup
- Smiling
- Washing your face
- Brushing your teeth
- Talking
- Encountering a breeze
Diagnosis:
- A neurological examination: Examining parts of the face can help the doctor determine exactly where the pain is occurring and if appear to have trigeminal neuralgia- which branches of the trigeminal nerve may be affected.
- Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI): MRI scan of the head to determine multiple sclerosis or a tumor is causing trigeminal neuralgia. in some cases, they may inject a dye into a blood vessel to view the arteries and veins and highlight blood flow.
Diagnosis trigeminal neuralgia mainly based on your description f the pain including:
-Type: Pain related to trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, shock-like, and brief.
- Location: The part of your face that are affected by pain will tell your trigeminal nerve is involved.
- Triggers: trigeminal neuralgia- related pain usually is brought on by light stimulation of cheeks, such as from eating, talking, or even encountering a cool breeze.
Surgery:
- Microvascular decompression
- Glycerol injection
- Balloon compression
- Brain stereotactic radiosurgery
- Radiofrequency thermal lesioning
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