What is trigeminal neuralgia?

4 May 2021

It is a condition that alters the trigeminal nerve, which is located at the base of the brain, generating chronic pain due to the pressure exerted by a vein on the nerve, so the discomfort usually spreads from the face to the brain, even with activities as simple as rubbing the face or smiling.

Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is more common in women, especially those over 50 years old, as a consequence of the aging process. However, the presence of a tumor, a stroke, facial trauma, injuries, brain surgeries, or a degenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis, can also trigger it.

Several factors can trigger trigeminal neuralgia, such as:

Shaving.
Drinking beverages.
Brushing your teeth.
Eating food.
Talking.
Washing your face.
Putting makeup.
Laughing.
Touching your face.

Signs and symptoms Trigeminal neuralgia

The characteristic symptoms consist of:

Sudden pain.
Pain crises generated by simple daily actions, such as combing hair.
Intense pain that can last days, weeks, months, or more.
Pain in the cheeks, jaw, teeth, gums, lips, eyes, or forehead.
Pain that attacks only one side of the face.
Sharp or stabbing pain that resembles an electric shock.
Painful spasms that can last a few seconds or several minutes.
Increasingly frequent and intense discomfort with the passing of days.
Initial burning as an indicator of a painful episode.

Usually, it is common for pain attacks to be mild and of little intensity at first, but if not treated in time, trigeminal neuralgia can evolve and cause prolonged and frequent episodes of acute pain.

Diagnosis and treatment Trigeminal neuralgia

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and medical history, they will perform a physical and neurological examination, as well as order diagnostic tests, such as electroencephalogram, computed tomography, and MRI to determine the cause.

Currently, there are various treatments to control the discomfort and pain caused by this disease, but the most common is based on the intake of drugs, injections, and surgery. If trigeminal neuralgia is due to a degenerative disease, the direct cause must be addressed. Among the most common medications are:

Anticonvulsants.
Antispasmodics.
Injected botox.

In more severe cases, one of these surgeries may be required:

Microvascular decompression.
Stereotactic radiosurgery of the brain.
Rhizotomy.
Injected glycerol.
Balloon compression.
Destruction of nerve fibers with radiofrequency.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Specialists Trigeminal neuralgia

Specialists

Neurology
Neurosurgery
Spine surgery
Pediatric neurosurgery
Neurophysiology
Neuro-rehabilitation
Neuro-pathology
Interventional neuro-radiology
Neuropsychology
Neuro-oncology
Neuro-otology
Epilepsy
Neuro-ophthalmology
Neuroimaging

Related centers and departments Trigeminal neuralgia

Neurology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

neurosciences.com
mayocilinic.org
medlineplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
topdoctors.es
medigraphic.com
Whizar-Lugo V, Cisneros-Corral R, Hernández-Velasco R. Neuralgia trigeminal. Rev Mex Anest. 2003;26(4):217-225.
López-Elizalde R, Reyes-Velasco E, Campero Á, et al. Abordaje asterional mínimamente invasivo para descompresión microvascular en neuralgia del trigémino. Gac Med Mex. 2019;155(Suppl: 1):70-78.
Grin EJ, Grin P, Rocha NML. Neuralgia del trigémino: un caso clínico. Rev ADM. 2018;75(3):164-167.
Cruz HTM, López PO, Pérez RC, et al. Microdescompresión vascular en la neuralgia esencial del trigémino. Rev Cubana Neurol Neurocir. 2017;7(1):43-49.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

Signs and symptoms Trigeminal neuralgia

Diagnosis and treatment Trigeminal neuralgia

Specialists Trigeminal neuralgia

Related centers and departments Trigeminal neuralgia

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Trigeminal neuralgia