Which are the symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia?

See the worst symptoms of affected by Trigeminal Neuralgia here

Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for transmitting sensations from the face to the brain. This condition is characterized by sudden, severe, and debilitating facial pain that can be triggered by even the slightest touch or movement. The pain is often described as sharp, shooting, or electric shock-like, and it can be excruciatingly intense.

1. Facial Pain: The hallmark symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is intense facial pain. The pain is typically unilateral, affecting one side of the face, and it is commonly localized to the lower face and jaw. The pain episodes can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes, and they can occur in rapid succession or intermittently throughout the day.

2. Triggers: Trigeminal neuralgia pain is often triggered by certain activities or stimuli. Common triggers include eating, drinking, talking, brushing teeth, touching the face, or even a gentle breeze. These triggers can cause sudden and severe pain, making it difficult for individuals to perform daily activities and maintain a normal quality of life.

3. Spontaneous Attacks: In addition to triggered pain, individuals with trigeminal neuralgia may also experience spontaneous attacks of pain without any apparent cause. These attacks can occur randomly and unpredictably, adding to the distress and frustration associated with the condition.

4. Pain Paroxysms: The pain experienced in trigeminal neuralgia is often described as paroxysmal, meaning it comes in sudden, intense bursts. These paroxysms can be debilitating and may cause individuals to withdraw from social interactions and daily activities due to the fear of triggering an episode.

5. Facial Sensitivity: Many people with trigeminal neuralgia experience heightened sensitivity in the affected area of the face. Even mild stimulation, such as a gentle touch or a light breeze, can trigger severe pain. This sensitivity can lead to a reluctance to engage in normal activities and can significantly impact a person's quality of life.

6. Unilateral Pain: Trigeminal neuralgia typically affects only one side of the face, although in rare cases, it can affect both sides. The pain is often described as being confined to a specific area, such as the cheek, jaw, or lower face, and it rarely crosses the midline of the face.

7. Duration and Frequency: The duration and frequency of pain episodes can vary among individuals with trigeminal neuralgia. Some may experience short, infrequent episodes, while others may have prolonged and frequent attacks. The pain can occur multiple times a day, leading to a constant fear and anticipation of the next episode.

8. Emotional Impact: Trigeminal neuralgia can have a significant emotional impact on individuals. The chronic pain and the constant fear of triggering an episode can lead to anxiety, depression, and social isolation. The emotional toll of living with trigeminal neuralgia should not be underestimated.

If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Trigeminal neuralgia can be a challenging condition to manage, but with the right medical care and support, individuals can find relief and improve their quality of life.

Diseasemaps

Posted Mar 17, 2017 by Debbie K 1050

Agonising, striking pain.

Posted Mar 17, 2017 by Lee 1000

Stabbing pain in the face and too walk around with a toothache that never seem to go.

Posted Mar 17, 2017 by Tanja-Marie 1340

Pain

Posted Mar 20, 2017 by Joyce Parton 1000

The electrical shocks primarily associated with TN1, but also occur with TN2, are the most painful, but last a split of a second. The less painful, yet more chronic pain that occurs more often in patients with TN2, is a fiery pain, deep in the face. This pain seems to be the most difficult to treat and more resistant to medication.

Posted Mar 21, 2017 by Sandy 1052

The pain I get around my eye

Posted Mar 21, 2017 by Hema 1000

Lack of knowledge of the disease and how to treat it. Learn whether you have typical or atypical trigeminal neuralgia and how you can learn to pace your life around those symptoms the best way you can for your circumstances.

Posted Mar 21, 2017 by Heidi 1000

Extreme facial pain in response to a range of stimuli - from light wind and loud noises to brushing your teeth or someone stroking your cheek

Posted Mar 22, 2017 by Denise 350

The sharp shooting electrical burning pains that shoot right Through your face and hurt so bad it brings you down to the ground

Posted May 24, 2017 by Nancy 2250

The stabbing pain is bad but for me personally it's the psychological effect the condition has on me that is the worst. When I'm feeling pain it causes me to feel depressed and in turn not take the proper steps to attempt to feel better, and in turn wallow even more in self pity. I know not everyone will feel these emotions, but they are normal, and you are NOT alone!

Posted May 28, 2017 by Miranda 690

Chronic facial pain. Severe pain with nausea.

Posted May 29, 2017 by Julie Nelson 700

The most limiting symptoms of TN are excruciating facial pain that seriously reduces a person's quality of life and depression as a result of suffering severe pain, which, in the case of type 2 TN, can be constant.

Other symptoms are related to the anticonvulsants prescribed for TN and the often rather unpleasant side effects of the medications.

TN is often comorbid with depression and anxiety.

The main goals in the treatment of TN are to get rid of the facial pain and to manage any constant pain, which occurs in the type 2 variant.

Posted Jun 11, 2017 by Margo 3125

Unremitting and intense neuralgia (nerve pain) in lancing bursts.

Posted Jun 14, 2017 by John 900

Extreme pain
Electric shock
Pain stabs
Crawling sensation
Pulsating

Posted Jun 18, 2017 by Ria 300

Extreme facial pain, sensitivity to temperatures and touch, pain in teeth on affected side, electric shock sensation in face

Posted Jul 29, 2017 by Brandy 350

I have atypical TN which means the pain never stops. TN1 and 2 comes in comes and goes
My pain is the worst toward my ear. The throbbing and stabbing and stocks are unbearable.

Posted Jul 29, 2017 by Jltaylor21 820

Acutely: the excruciating pain, of course
In retrospect: setting back my professional nursing career by 10 years and thereby losing my ability to support myself financially, to advance in my career, and losing my sense of self and integrity.

Posted Jul 29, 2017 by Christina 1100

Shock like pain in the jaw,ear and eye

Posted Jul 30, 2017 by Poison Yvy 2015

This varies per person as well as if they have type 1 or 2 (the constant pain or shocks). Since it can also be bilateral it depends on the branches affected yet this easy- fear. Fear is the worst symptom.
Since the most intense flare ups are episodic and stimulated by almost every aspect of living it's living in a constant state of fear. The shocks that come in these back to back intense episodes makes kidney stones and child birth seem like a hang nail. This disease can take your life. If you let it.
"the suicide disease."
Everyone newly diagnosed will hear that. The reality is that this disease does take ones life. It is a new normal.
Wind will hurt. Brushing your teeth will hurt. Snow will hurt. Noise will hurt. Touch, kissing are not in this new life. Not today if those are your triggers.
Pain is naturally considered the 'worst symptom' but that is simply not accurate. It's the state of fear knowing that anything could cause a flare. Or that nothing could. That it just hits and seems like it will never end.
Lack of understanding from friends, coworkers, doctors is a pretty terrible part of it. Bad advice about 'migraine medicine' will come. That must be a new normal.
Pain, fear, anxiety and developing and entirely new reality are the realistic worst symptoms of this disease.
Find your triggers as fast as you can so not every single aspect of your life is taken.
The thing about this disease is if the diagnosis is new it's not time to worry about what if a new trigger occurs. It's not time to worry about what it it gets worse. If in remission it's not time to worry about the next flare up.
This disease will let you be lazy. It will do the work for you and it's own time. It will show up and do it's job whenever it wants. You do not have to be paralyzed by fear about what's next because the only way to not give your life to it is to stay in the now.
It's cheesy but true. If the now is a level 10 flare up it's not time to focus on when it stops. It's time to learn tools.
The pain is Hell. That is reality. If you are reading this because you just got diagnosed then take a moment and applaud yourself. You are actually handling the worst pain known to man. Doesn't matter how. You are.
From one TN warrior to another- looking at the "what ifs" makes it "the suicide disease."
The pain isn't avoidable. Your triggers may not be. The fear is a choice every single day we can choose to live in or not.
TN doesn't give us many choices but the ability to respond to any situation is a choice we all have that not even TN can take.

Posted Jul 30, 2017 by Julia 500

Facial pain, depression, suicidal thoughts and medicine side effects.

Posted Aug 6, 2017 by Michelle 2050

Headaches to hot brain.

Posted Sep 8, 2017 by Zuzana C.V. 300

Electric shocks and burning

Posted Oct 3, 2017 by Korine 1200

Intermittent lighting bolts or electric shock type of pain in the affected area of the face. It can also cause numbness and tingling. Constant burning pain is common in Atypical Neuralgia with the electric shock pains less common.

Posted Nov 23, 2017 by Carol 800

Facial pains coming from the Trigeminal nerve that can be extremely painful . Flares of pain that's make the wince in pain. Gauring behaviour wearing hats scarves jolting pain elevated bp.

Posted Feb 4, 2018 by James 2500

I have type 1 and type 2 trigeminal neuralgia. They each have their own drawbacks. Type 2 frustrates me at times because the constant pain levels can tend to wear my patience thin. Type 1 of course is the super painful spikes of pain that there is no preparing yourself for, and when they come on it interrupts your life completely

Posted Feb 23, 2018 by Alicia 2600

Facial pain, that can be aching or shooting/electric shock in natural, usually affecting one side of the face/head.

Posted Apr 21, 2018 by Rennierich 400

TN can occur as a result of aging, multiple sclerosis or a similar disorder that damages the myelin sheath protecting certain nerves. A tumor, or shingles on the face/ear. Dental procedures.
Symptoms can be pain, tingling or burning in the mouth, face, ear, often triggered by chewing, brushing teeth, wind or cold on affected area. Muscle spasms.

Posted May 18, 2018 by Jackie 1800

Shooting, stabbing/lancinating, and searing pains on one side of the face—often the right side. Can last a few seconds up to two minutes on average. Can occur as a single shock or come in multiple waves. Usually strikes without warning. Sometimes will be telegraphed by a pain or bussing in the brow line.

The pain is indescribable, but it is known to be the worst that a human being can have. That is the symptom that is limiting, even debilitating.

Posted Feb 12, 2020 by Eric 2550

Excruciating agony usually on rhs of face & head. Can't talk or discuss anything but may be able to ask for Paracetamol or other otc painkiller or coffee. Liable to scream, cry, screw their eyes up, walk around while clutching head with no regard for or to safety so would need someone to keep an eye on them so they won't walk out on a road with no concern for traffic etc., liable to kick or throw obstacles out of the way, headbutt a wall or use a heavy device to hit the head, use the full dictionary of words others think are rude &/or crude. runny or blocked nose, agony in areas in the mouth including teeth, curl up in a fetus position while holding head.
Remove the agony as other conditions are directly linked.

Posted Oct 7, 2021 by Tim 400

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the pain and discomfort that occurs

Posted Mar 3, 2017 by Ignacio 1000

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Pain and side effects of medications

Posted Sep 17, 2017 by Teresa 220