Definition of Trigeminal Neuralgia
What you need to know about trigeminal neuralgia
Definition Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a very painful disorder of the portion of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) that supplies sensation to the face. It is characterized by recurrent electric shock-like (paroxysmal) pains in one or more branches of the trigeminal nerve (maxillary, mandibular, and/or ophthalmic branches), each supplying a different portion of the face. Severe facial pain can last from a second to 15 minutes or longer; some individuals may have up to 100 lightning-like bursts of stabbing pain in a day.
Much like the insulation around an electrical wire, the myelin sheath around the trigeminal nerve enables electrical impulses to be conducted along the nerve fiber accurately. When the myelin sheath is damaged it's like live wires touching each other and the correct information to the brain is not being sent.
A simple breeze, shaving, brushing your teeth and many other sensations can be received by the brain as excruciating pain in the form of shocks and stabbing pain in one or more areas of the face.
If you've ever had a severe toothache, been punched in the nose, poked in the eye, had a migraine or a sinus infection, then you have experienced a small portion of the pain that the trigeminal nerve is capable of sending to the brain.
Just imagine all that at the same time -- to the extreme -- and add in your face being hooked up to a car battery at the same time. Yes, there is a reason why Trigeminal Neuralgia is often called the world's worst pain. It hurts like nothing you've ever felt in your life.
If you're lucky the mixed-up signals are brief. But some can last for hours, days, weeks. Some people have it constantly and some people have it for brief moments hundreds of times a day.
Each case is different, as is what medication, treatment or surgery you might best respond to. It really is different in every case, which is why we so desperately need research into Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Research is getting close to explaining some things about Trigeminal Neuralgia. But because it's so rare -- only 4 to 8 million sufferers worldwide -- research funding is hard to get.
Year after year we are turned down by the World Health Organization despite the severity of the pain, and the more than 20,000 signatures on a petition to them. The WHO is a specialized part of the United Nations, concerned with international public health. Being listed by the organization would mean money for research and maybe even someday a cure.
For now, we with TN are doing it on our own. Each organization, association, committee, page and group about Trigeminal Neuralgia exists because someone with the disease created it. We have asked, we have cried, we have begged, we have gotten angry, depressed, lost homes, jobs, family, friends, even our lives, waiting for help to come from someone, anyone other than us.
We are tired, we are weary, and we are in pain. But we are fierce, we are strong and are united across the world to bring awareness to Trigeminal Neuralgia. Our pain needs to be seen and heard by those who are able to provide the help we so desperately need.
For more information on Trigeminal Neuralgia research and to see how you can help find a cure visit www.facingfacialpain.org
If you have Trigeminal Neuralgia and need help finding support contact
www.fpa-support.org
Much like the insulation around an electrical wire, the myelin sheath around the trigeminal nerve enables electrical impulses to be conducted along the nerve fiber accurately. When the myelin sheath is damaged it's like live wires touching each other and the correct information to the brain is not being sent.
A simple breeze, shaving, brushing your teeth and many other sensations can be received by the brain as excruciating pain in the form of shocks and stabbing pain in one or more areas of the face.
If you've ever had a severe toothache, been punched in the nose, poked in the eye, had a migraine or a sinus infection, then you have experienced a small portion of the pain that the trigeminal nerve is capable of sending to the brain.
Just imagine all that at the same time -- to the extreme -- and add in your face being hooked up to a car battery at the same time. Yes, there is a reason why Trigeminal Neuralgia is often called the world's worst pain. It hurts like nothing you've ever felt in your life.
If you're lucky the mixed-up signals are brief. But some can last for hours, days, weeks. Some people have it constantly and some people have it for brief moments hundreds of times a day.
Each case is different, as is what medication, treatment or surgery you might best respond to. It really is different in every case, which is why we so desperately need research into Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Research is getting close to explaining some things about Trigeminal Neuralgia. But because it's so rare -- only 4 to 8 million sufferers worldwide -- research funding is hard to get.
Year after year we are turned down by the World Health Organization despite the severity of the pain, and the more than 20,000 signatures on a petition to them. The WHO is a specialized part of the United Nations, concerned with international public health. Being listed by the organization would mean money for research and maybe even someday a cure.
For now, we with TN are doing it on our own. Each organization, association, committee, page and group about Trigeminal Neuralgia exists because someone with the disease created it. We have asked, we have cried, we have begged, we have gotten angry, depressed, lost homes, jobs, family, friends, even our lives, waiting for help to come from someone, anyone other than us.
We are tired, we are weary, and we are in pain. But we are fierce, we are strong and are united across the world to bring awareness to Trigeminal Neuralgia. Our pain needs to be seen and heard by those who are able to provide the help we so desperately need.
For more information on Trigeminal Neuralgia research and to see how you can help find a cure visit www.facingfacialpain.org
If you have Trigeminal Neuralgia and need help finding support contact
www.fpa-support.org
Web-sites and public support pages to educate, raise awareness and share the latest information about TN, information to help you cope with the pain, etc.
EndTN
Facial Pain Advocacy Alliance
Facial Pain Research Foundation FB page
Facial Pain Association FB Page
LivingwithFacialPain Web-site
TNAC Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK Facing Pain Together
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association Australia
Trigeminal Neuralgia Support New Zealand
CaTNA Canadian Trigeminal Neuralgia Association
Association Quebecois De La Douleur Chronigue
AFAT (Association Francaise Algies Trigeminal)
Ireland Support Group
Teens with Trigeminal Neuralgia
Alaska Trigeminal Neuralgia
EndTN
Facial Pain Advocacy Alliance
Facial Pain Research Foundation FB page
Facial Pain Association FB Page
LivingwithFacialPain Web-site
TNAC Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK Facing Pain Together
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association Australia
Trigeminal Neuralgia Support New Zealand
CaTNA Canadian Trigeminal Neuralgia Association
Association Quebecois De La Douleur Chronigue
AFAT (Association Francaise Algies Trigeminal)
Ireland Support Group
Teens with Trigeminal Neuralgia
Alaska Trigeminal Neuralgia
The enclosed pamphlets, files, documents and photos are information that will help you with educating yourself or others about Trigeminal Neuralgia and Facial Pain Disorders. You may share and download files. These documents and files are not a means of self-diagnosis but for awareness and education.
You can learn more by visiting the Facial Pain Association at: www.fpa-support.org
For information on research visit the Facial Pain Research Foundation
You can learn more by visiting the Facial Pain Association at: www.fpa-support.org
For information on research visit the Facial Pain Research Foundation
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The NIH Stroke Scale: Please follow this link to the NIH website Medical professionals and even the public have been trained to recognize basic signs of stroke.
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All information contained on TNnME web site is for informational purposes only and at no time should any content on TNNME be considered medical or legal advice or imply any action should be taken. It is in no way intended to be used as a replacement for professional medical treatment. TNnME makes no claims as to the scientific/clinical validity of the information on this site OR to that of the information linked to and from this site. All information taken from the internet should be discussed with a medical professional!
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