TRIGEMINAL NERVE PAIN (NEURALGIAS)

I suffer from spontaneous sharp, electric-like pain on my face. This occurs various times a day, with the pain lasting for a short duration. So far, the condition has not improved, and has even triggered whilst washing my face or mouth. Is this common?

This could be an uncommon condition of the nerves which tends to affect older people. Trigeminal neuralgia is the most common of such conditions.

Features

• Sudden pain of varying intensity on the face or jaw; triggered by jaw movements or touch
• Pain is of short duration and can recur several times a day
• Pain can be excruciating but often comes and goes

Causes

• No known cause, commonly attributed to nerve instability

Management

• Medication is the treatment of choice
• Imaging of the head to rule out brain lesions is often advised