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May 22, 2013
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Trigeminal Neuralgia (Facial Nerve Pain) (cont.)

Medical Author:
Edward Lubin, MD, PhD
Medical Editor:
Scott H Plantz, MD, FAAEM
Medical Editor:
Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD
Medical Editor:
James Ungar, MD

Trigeminal Neuralgia Causes

  • The condition has no clear-cut cause.

    • Some experts argue that the syndrome is caused by traumatic damage to the nerve as it passes from the openings in the skull to the muscles and tissue of the face. The damage compresses the nerve, causing the nerve cell to shed the protective and conductive coating (demyelination).

    • Others believe the cause stems from biochemical change in the nerve tissue itself.

    • A more recent notion is that an abnormal blood vessel compresses the nerve as it exits from the brain itself.

  • In all cases, though, an excessive burst of nervous activity from a damaged nerve causes the painful attacks.

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Trigeminal Neuralgia (Facial Nerve Pain) - Treatment

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Trigeminal Neuralgia (Facial Nerve Pain) - Symptoms

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Read What Your Physician is Reading on Medscape

Trigeminal Neuralgia »

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a common and potentially disabling pain syndrome, the precise pathophysiology of which remains obscure.

Read More on Medscape Reference »


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