Also called: Also called: Tic douloureux, TN
Can you imagine feeling a shock in your face as you brush your teeth or shave? If you have trigeminal neuralgia (TN), you may know exactly what it's like. You may feel extreme numbness, tingling or burning on a part of your face. Any vibration on your face, even from talking, can set it off. The condition may come and go, disappearing for days or even months. But the longer you have it, the less often it goes away.
Your trigeminal nerve is responsible for sensations on your face. The cause of TN is probably a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve. Tumors and multiple sclerosis can also cause TN, but in some cases the cause is unknown.
TN usually affects people over 50, especially women. Medicines and sometimes surgery can help with the pain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/trigeminal_neuralgia.htm
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Trigeminal Neuralgia
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/trigeminalneuralgia/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/trigeminalneuralgiaspanish/htm/index.htm
- Trigeminal Neuralgia(Beth Israel Medical Center, Dept. of Pain Medicine and Palliative Care) - http://stoppain.org/pain_medicine/content/chronicpain/trigeminal.asp
- Trigeminal Neuralgia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/trigeminal-neuralgia/DS00446/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Trigeminal Neuralgia(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/trigeminal_neuralgia/detail_trigeminal_neuralgia.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/La_neuralgia_del_trigemino.htm
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MRI of the Head(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=headmr
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=headmr
- Gamma-knife Radiosurgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/gamma-knife-radiosurgery/MY00206/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
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Trigeminal Neuralgia(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/trigeminalneuralgia/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/trigeminalneuralgiaspanish/htm/index.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Trigeminal Neuralgia(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Trigeminal+Neuralgia%22
- Article: Gabapentin for refractory idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18705259&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Trigeminal neuralgia due to compressive basilar artery. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18661725&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Gamma knife radiosurgery for medically refractory idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18642631&tool=MedlinePlus
- Trigeminal Neuralgia -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=trigeminal+neuralgia[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Neurological Diagnostic Tests Glossary(American Association of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/what/patient_e/glossary.asp
- Find a Board-Certified Neurosurgeon(American Association of Neurological Surgeons, Congress of Neurological Surgeons) - http://www.neurosurgerytoday.org/findaneuro/
- Find a Neurologist(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.thebrainmatters.org/index.cfm?key=1.2.2
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Pain - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pain.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Trigeminal Neuralgia is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/