Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain disorder affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face and controls some chewing muscles. It causes sudden episodes of severe, often electric shock-like facial pain, typically triggered by ordinary actions such as chewing, speaking, or touching the face. The pain usually affects one side of the face and can occur in brief repeated attacks or as a more constant background ache. In many cases it results from a blood vessel compressing the nerve near the brainstem, though it can also arise from other underlying causes.