Does trigeminal neuralgia cause facial swelling?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 31, 2025
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For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, when they frequently experience bouts of pain, most do not have significant facial swelling. The pain typically occurs distinctly in the areas distributed by the trigeminal nerve roots, often starting and stopping suddenly, and each episode may last from a few seconds to several minutes. Due to repeated pain, facial muscle atrophy may occur, but generally, there is no swelling of the face. For treating trigeminal neuralgia, surgery is commonly used. Microvascular decompression surgery is often recommended to help improve symptoms and can even achieve a clinical cure.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Can trigeminal neuralgia be cured completely?

Trigeminal neuralgia manifests as stubborn, intractable pain, but that does not mean we are helpless against it. The treatment of trigeminal neuralgia mainly involves the following aspects. Medication can only relieve symptoms and is not a cure. Radiofrequency ablation can destroy the trigeminal ganglion, but there is also a high probability of recurrence. The principle of Gamma Knife is somewhat similar to radiofrequency ablation, and the possibility of recurrence is also relatively high. Currently, the most effective treatment for a complete cure is surgical treatment, with about 80%-90% of patients with trigeminal neuralgia achieving complete eradication through treatments such as microvascular decompression surgery.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Does trigeminal neuralgia cause dizziness?

For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, they generally do not experience dizziness. Trigeminal neuralgia is mostly due to the presence of a significant culpable vessel around the trigeminal nerve, which continuously compresses the nerve, leading to abnormal discharges of the trigeminal nerve. This is manifested as severe headache pain in the area distributed by the roots of the trigeminal nerve, most often characterized by sharp, stabbing pain, resembling a knife cut or tearing, which is often unbearable for patients. As the condition progressively worsens, the frequency and occurrences of trigeminal neuralgia attacks also gradually increase, often causing extreme pain for the patients.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Early manifestations of trigeminal neuralgia

For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, the initial symptoms mainly include sudden onset of intense pain that stops abruptly. The nature of the pain is generally sharp, resembling sharp stabbing or knife-like pain. In most cases, trigger points are easily formed on the face, commonly appearing around the bilateral nostrils and corners of the mouth as fixed trigger points. Touching these trigger points can easily trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia, which lasts for a relatively short duration, typically from a few seconds to several seconds. In most cases, attacks are more likely to be triggered when the patient is tired, fatigued, or under mental stress.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Trigeminal neuralgia pain level

The World Health Organization classifies pain into five levels. Level zero is no pain. Level one is mild pain that does not require medication. Level two is moderate pain that requires medication. Level three is severe pain that necessitates medication. Level four involves severe and intense pain, often accompanied by changes in vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of severe pain that occurs repeatedly in the trigeminal nerve area. It is recognized globally as one of the most painful diseases, often referred to as the "world's greatest pain" and "the cancer that does not kill." Patients often live in a state of feeling better off dead, which indicates the extreme level of pain associated with this disease. The pain level for this condition is classified as level four, the highest level.

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Is occipital neuralgia the same as trigeminal neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are different; these are two distinct diseases with different onset times, affected areas, and pain characteristics. Occipital neuralgia generally occurs in the back of the head and is associated with cervical spondylosis, neck muscle tension, spasms, injury, trauma, and inflammation, typically triggering pain in the distribution area of the greater occipital nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia generally affects the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve, causing very intense pain, which may be like lightning or a burning sensation. It is typically triggered by washing the face, brushing teeth, or touching and can start and stop suddenly.