Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) or tic doloureux (also known as prosopalgia) is a neuropathic disorder of the trigeminal nerves that causes episodes of intense pain. Its nickname is "the suicide disease" because it causes one of the most severe pains that a human being can experience. The condition can bring about stabbing, mind-numbing, electric shock-like pain from just a finger's glance of the cheek.
There are estimated seven forms of TN: typical TN, atypical TN, pre-TN, multiple-sclerosis-related TN, secondary TN, post-traumatic TN (trigeminal neuropathy), and failed TN. These forms of TN should be distinguished from idiopathic (atypical) facial pain, as well as other disorders causing cranio-facial pain.

*Please keep in mind this is a support group of a wonderful collection of people with TN or a family, friend, coworker etc. Unless a person states otherwise, we are not doctors and don't treat TN but do have the same goals. To get comfort and relief from TN!~
Thank you for being part of our Support Group. A great thanks to family and friends who join and take interest with TN!

Disclaimer
This site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or replace the service of your physician, but solely to give you information to help enable you to make informed decisions about your healthcare with guidance of healthcare professionals.

Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, phenytoin, or gabapentin are generally the most effective medications. Generally speaking, opiate-based analgesics offer little relief from TN attacks, but may decrease the pain sensation that is experienced by the patient. Anticonvulsant effects may be potentiated with moderate to high levels of adjuvant therapies such as baclofen and/or clonazepam. Baclofen may also help some patients eat more normally if jaw movement tends to aggravate the symptoms.

If anticonvulsants do not help and surgical options have failed or are ruled out, the pain may be treated long-term with an opioid such as methadone, oxycodone or Duragesic in patch form...

Low doses of some antidepressants are thought to be effective in treating neuropathic pain, but a tremendous amount of controversy exists on this topic, and their use is often limited to treating the depression that is associated with chronic pain, rather than the actual sensation of pain from the trigeminal nerve.
Botox can be injected into the nerve by a physician, and has been found helpful using the "migraine" pattern adapted to the patient's special needs.
Patients may also find relief by having their neurologist implant a neuro-stimulator.

Many patients cannot tolerate medications for years, and an alternative treatment is to take a drug such as gabapentin and place it in an externally applied cream base by a pharmacist who compounds drugs. Also helpful when remissions occur and rotating medications if one becomes ineffective.

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Reminder: unless a person states otherwise, we are not doctors but do have the same goals. Always consult your doctor about medications.

Disclaimer
This site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or
replace the service of your physician, but solely to give you
information to help enable you to make informed decisions
about your healthcare with guidance of healthcare
professionals.