Overview
Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) causes episodes of intense facial pain that can disrupt your everyday activities. It typically happens when a blood vessel puts pressure on your trigeminal nerve near your brainstem. This nerve provides sensation to your head and face. Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of neuropathic pain.
Trigeminal neuralgia isn’t life-threatening, but it can be life-altering. Activities as simple as chewing, talking, smiling and brushing your teeth can trigger brief bouts of intense pain, making TN both a physical and emotional condition. TN is typically chronic (long-term) but several treatments can help manage your symptoms.
Another name for trigeminal neuralgia is tic douloureux.
How common is trigeminal neuralgia?
About 150,000 people in the U.S. receive a trigeminal neuralgia diagnosis every year. People assigned female at birth (AFAB) are more likely to develop it than people assigned male at birth (AMAB). Most cases develop after age 50. Trigeminal neuralgia very rarely affects children.
Advertisement
