How to relieve trigeminal neuralgia pain

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on January 31, 2025
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For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, to achieve pain relief, initially, one can treat the disease by taking medication. Simultaneously, it is also appropriate to combine some physical therapies such as massage, tuina, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and electrotherapy. Acupuncture, in particular, helps significantly in relieving pain and improving symptoms. Moreover, to achieve a complete cure, it is advisable to opt for surgical methods. Clinically, it is generally recommended to choose microvascular decompression surgery for treatment. Most patients with trigeminal neuralgia can achieve desirable outcomes after undergoing surgery. Additionally, patients with trigeminal neuralgia should be careful with their diet and avoid overly greasy, spicy, and irritating foods. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Pei
Neurosurgery
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What should I do if trigeminal neuralgia recurs?

After the recurrence of trigeminal neuralgia, oral medication can be considered as the initial treatment. If the effect of the medication is not clear, or the side effects are intolerable, then balloon compression or radiofrequency treatment can be considered. These two methods can be used repeatedly, but they also have a certain recurrence rate. If neither medication nor radiofrequency treatment achieves satisfactory results, then surgical treatment can be considered. Microvascular decompression surgery of the trigeminal nerve can be performed under a microscope, where the trigeminal nerve and the blood vessel compressing it are separated, which can fundamentally resolve trigeminal neuralgia. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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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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trigeminal neuralgia area

The trigeminal nerve, being the fifth pair of cranial nerves, branches into three divisions after emerging from the skull. The first division is the ophthalmic division, which innervates the upper eyelid and superficial parts of the eye and forehead. The second division is the maxillary division, governing the cheek, upper lip, and gums. The third division is the mandibular division, which affects the lower lip and gums. Trigeminal neuralgia is pain that occurs in the areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve, typically affecting one side and primarily involving the second and third divisions, with the second being the most common and the third next, while the first division is rare. The pain of trigeminal neuralgia can be confined to the area of one division or can occur in two or all three divisions simultaneously.

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Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
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Is trigeminal neuralgia severe?

Trigeminal neuralgia is often described by people as the "world's first pain," highlighting the severity of this condition. Patients usually experience excruciating pain in the areas of the head and face served by the trigeminal nerve during activities such as washing their face, brushing their teeth, eating, drinking, combing their hair, and even in a state of rest. The pain can feel like cutting, burning, tearing, or electric shocks, making it unbearable and extremely agonizing. Clinically, trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by a sudden onset, long duration of illness, and a very slow, or even impossible, recovery. Therefore, those suffering from trigeminal neuralgia often face tremendous physical and psychological challenges. It is a serious disease.

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Is trigeminal neuralgia easy to treat?

Whether trigeminal neuralgia is easy to treat must be judged based on the situation at the time. The vast majority of patients with trigeminal nerve pain can find a corresponding cause, such as compression by blood vessels, tumors, or infection factors. For vascular compression, microvascular decompression surgery can be adopted for treatment. For tumor compression, craniotomy and tumor resection can be adopted for treatment. For some infectious factors, treatment such as anti-infection and hormones can be adopted. These are relatively easier to treat, and most can have a very obvious prognosis. However, there are also cases, such as trigeminal neuralgia where no specific cause has been found, called primary trigeminal neuralgia, where active complete treatment is not possible, and only certain methods can be used to alleviate the general symptoms of the patient and reduce their suffering.