This interesting disease, which causes terrible pain in the face, affects 1.7 million people worldwide. Since it is often confused with toothache, there may even be people who have their 32 teeth extracted to get rid of the pain. Because sometimes even doctors can make a wrong diagnosis.
People suffering from this disease cannot eat, brush their teeth, wash their face, put on make-up, or even talk on their cell phones. The living comfort of the patients is seriously reduced. That’s why there are even patients who commit suicide.
In the case of trigeminal neuralgia, the function of the trigeminal nerve, whose task is to carry facial sensations to the brain, is impaired.
In many cases, the main problem is the contact between a normal blood vessel and the trigeminal nerve, located at the base of the brain. This contact puts pressure on the nerve and causes it to send false signals over time.
Smiling, yawning, even talking is a nightmare for people suffering from this disease.
Even the slightest breeze will cause them excruciating pain. It is a pain described by patients as “like an electric shock or stabbing a knife”.
Pain is usually felt on one side of the patient’s face, especially in the cheeks or lower jaw. Some patients may experience this type of pain several times a month, while others may experience it as often as several times a day.
- Photo 1: The patient, who had to have 32 teeth extracted due to pain and requested euthanasia, regained his former health after a successful operation.
- Photo 2: The patient, who had to have 6 teeth removed due to pain and was diagnosed correctly 18 years later, got rid of his pain after the operation.
The causes of trigeminal neuralgia can vary.
In some cases, it may occur as a result of aging or be associated with a disorder similar to multiple sclerosis, which damages the myelin sheath that protects certain nerves. It can also be caused by a benign or malignant tumor pressing on the trigeminal nerve.
It may occur due to a brain lesion or other abnormalities. Surgical injuries, stroke, or facial trauma may also be responsible for the onset of the disease.
It is possible to get rid of the unbearable pain caused by the disease with medication or surgery.
Medication is administered first in the treatment. If medication is ineffective or if trigeminal neuralgia continues to affect the patient’s quality of life, surgery may be required to reduce the nerve’s activity.
There is a 95 percent chance of success with the operation. After the operation, patients say that they feel as if they were born again.
Trigeminal neuralgia is more common among women than men and is more likely to occur in adults over the age of 50.
Individuals who experience facial pain, especially prolonged or recurrent pain, as well as individuals who experience facial pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Sources: 1, 2, 3
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