Is occipital neuralgia the same as trigeminal neuralgia?

Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
Updated on September 19, 2024
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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.

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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.

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Is cold compress effective for trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of intense recurring pain in the facial areas distributed by the trigeminal nerve. When an attack occurs, the pain is unbearable for the patient. Clinically, besides immediately taking medication or opting for surgical treatments after stabilization, applying a cold compress can also alleviate symptoms. Placing a cold towel on the painful facial areas can relieve spasms and pain, improve local swelling, raise the pain threshold, and subsequently reduce the sensation of pain.

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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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Should people with trigeminal neuralgia avoid certain foods?

Patients with trigeminal neuralgia need to be cautious about their diet. In daily life, try to avoid oily, spicy, and irritating foods, as these types of foods may trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia or make the existing attacks more frequent, thereby causing great pain to the patient. It is recommended to choose a light diet in daily life, low in salt and fat, especially for patients with high blood pressure or diabetes, who need to be more cautious. It may be beneficial to appropriately include some fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, and it is also suggested to supplement with some multivitamin drugs, which might enhance the effects. If trigeminal neuralgia attacks frequently, it is still recommended to visit a local hospital in a timely manner and consider undergoing microvascular decompression surgery for treatment.

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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.