About Trigeminal neuralgia:
- Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is a condition that causes intense pain similar to an electric shock on one side of the face.
- Cause:
- It affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries signals from the face to the brain.
- It happens when a blood vessel puts pressure on the trigeminal nerve.
- The pain comes suddenly and can be triggered by simple activities like eating, brushing teeth, or even smiling.
- People with trigeminal neuralgia may at first experience short, mild episodes of pain. But the condition can get worse, causing longer periods of pain that happen more often.
- It's more common in women and people older than 50.
- It is a chronic disorder, and the pain can be difficult to manage, often needing medication or even surgery.
- It is often called the "suicide disease" because of how painful it can be.
