Have you or your near & dear one experienced severe,shock like,short lasting electric current like pain on face like cheek,jaw,near teeth,tongue,lips or nose?
It may be trigeminal neuralgia.
What is that?
There are 12 nerves emmerging out of brain.The 5 th nerve is called trigeminal nerve,which comes out from brain to give sensation at face.Any compression or irritation of that nerve gives severe pain on face(jaw,cheek,teeth,lips etc),is called trigeminal neuralgia.
Let me simplify this.
Trigeminal (5th cranial) nerve has 3 division/branches.
V1-OPHTHALMIC-gives sensation near eye & forhead.
V2-MAXILLARY-gives sensation near nose,upper lips,upper teeth.
V3-MANDIBULAR-gives sensation near jaw,lower teeth,lower lips etc.
Depending on the which division is being compressed,symptoms in that area of face appears.
When will pain increase?
During brushing,eating,in cold,by blow of air/water,emotional distress etc.
How to diagnose?
Doctor can identify trigeminal pain with its characteristic pain pattern & can confirm with MRI.
We will discuss treatment in PART-2.https://spinepaincaresurat.com/departments/face-pain-trigeminal-neuralgia/