Painful Lesions of the Cranial Nerves and Other Facial Pain Publisher



Naderi Behdani F¹ Show Affiliations
Source: Headache and Migraine in Practice Published:2022

Abstract

Neuralgia is pain that is induced by the irritation of a nerve. The duration of a pain attack ranges from 30s to 2min. The pain can be characterized as stabbing or being similar to an electric shock. The most common nerve involved is the trigeminal nerve, followed by the glossopharyngeal and greater occipital nerves. Detection of a trigger point is diagnostic for trigeminal neuralgia. The pain can be aggravated by chewing, toothbrushing, and shaving. The classic form of neuralgia is usually caused by vascular compression and demyelination of the nerve. The secondary type is often caused by lesions on the cerebellopontine angle. A brain MRI is required to exclude secondary causes and detect vascular compression. Treatment starts with carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine. If the patient cannot tolerate medication or experiences side effects, a neurosurgical consult is recommended. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.