Facts and Statistics

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain disorder of the trigeminal nerve.
TN is also called tic douloureux, trifacial neuralgia and fothergill’s neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most painful disorders known. Even though TN has been classified as a rare disease by the National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD), it is probably the most common cause of severe facial pain.
Trigeminal neuralgia affects approximately 1.7 million people in the United States.
Approximately four to five in 100,000 people will develop trigeminal neuralgia each year.
About 1% of patients with multiple sclerosis develop trigeminal neuralgia.
TN is often caused by one or more blood vessels “compressing” or pressing against the trigeminal nerve. Many experts believe that repeated pressure or pulsing of blood vessels against the trigeminal nerve wears away the nerve covering (myelin) and causes irritation.
TN pain can happen without any warning or reason. It can be triggered when certain areas of your face are touched. Things that trigger pain may include eating, drinking, shaving, putting on makeup or even smiling.
You may have a higher risk of developing TN if you are over 50 years old, if you are a woman and if you have family members who have TN.
Your health care provider may be able to diagnose your TN by asking questions about your pain.
Trigeminal neuralgia almost always affects one side of the face, usually the right side.
TN pain may come more frequently or become more severe over time. You may have TN in one of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve that, over time, spreads to one or both of the other branches.
You may have typical or “classic” TN, or you may have atypical TN.
Typical TN often appears suddenly as a sharp, shooting, lightning-like pain lasting a few seconds up to several minutes. You may have TN pain once during the day or have a series of painful attacks that occur one after the other.
People with atypical TN have constant dull, aching, or throbbing pain in addition to episodes of sharp, shock-like pain.
The first line of treatment for TN is usually carbamazepine (Tegretol, Carbatrol) or another anti-convulsant. These medications may stop working over time. If medications do not relieve enough of your pain or the side effects are unbearable, you may need injections or surgery.
You may have “open” surgery or a percutaneous “needle” procedure. The most popular open surgery for TN is microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery. MVD can provide pain relief for many years.
Percutaneous needle procedures include percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) trigeminal gangliolysis (PRFTG), glycerol rhizotomy and trigeminal balloon compression. These procedures cause facial numbness but can provide pain relief up to a few years.
Stereotactic radiosurgery may also be done to treat TN. This surgery is sometimes called gamma knife, LINAC or cyberknife surgery.
Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback and relaxation techniques may help to further decrease your pain.