Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most severe facial pain conditions known to medicine.
It causes sudden attacks of intense pain in the face. Many people describe the pain as sharp, shooting or like an electric shock. It can affect the jaw, teeth, gums, cheek, eye, forehead or one side of the face.
For me, a trigeminal neuralgia attack can feel like hundreds of electric shocks striking my face without warning. At times, it can feel like shards of glass or razors cutting into the skin. The pain is not “just facial pain”. It can stop you speaking, eating, brushing your teeth, washing your face or living normally.
Trigeminal neuralgia, often shortened to TN, can be difficult to explain to anyone who has not experienced it.
A TN attack may feel like:
Sudden electric shocks in the face.
Sharp, stabbing pain in the jaw, teeth or gums.
Pain around the eye, cheek, forehead or mouth.
A burning, cutting or razor-like sensation.
Pain triggered by everyday actions such as talking, eating, brushing teeth, touching the face or feeling cold air.
Some people have short attacks lasting seconds. Others experience repeated attacks close together. The pain can be so severe that a person cannot do anything while it is happening.
Trigeminal neuralgia is often mistaken for dental pain. Many people see dentists before they ever see a neurologist or facial pain specialist.
This matters because TN pain can appear in the teeth, gums or jaw, even when the problem is not dental. Some people have unnecessary dental treatment before the true cause is understood.
Greater awareness among health professionals, dentists, families and the public could help people reach the right support sooner.
The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve. It carries sensation from the face, teeth, mouth and jaw to the brain.
In many cases, trigeminal neuralgia is linked to pressure on the trigeminal nerve, often from a nearby blood vessel. Other causes may include multiple sclerosis or another condition affecting the nerve. Sometimes, no clear cause is found.
Most people experience pain on one side of the face. Bilateral trigeminal neuralgia, where both sides are affected, is less common.
Trigeminal neuralgia has sometimes been called “the suicide disease” because the pain can be extreme and can seriously affect mental health.
That phrase should be used with care. It must never make people feel hopeless. The better message is clear: trigeminal neuralgia can be devastating, but people should not be left alone with it. Support, medical advice, treatment options and patient organisations matter.
Anyone who feels at risk of harming themselves should seek urgent help. In an immediate emergency, call 999. For urgent mental health support in England, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Samaritans can also be contacted free on 116 123.
There is no single answer for everyone. Some people are helped by medication. Others may be considered for specialist procedures or surgery, including microvascular decompression, depending on the cause of their TN and their clinical circumstances.
Treatment decisions should always be made with a qualified clinician. People living with TN should not be dismissed, blamed or told the pain is “just stress”. The pain is real, and it deserves serious medical attention.
For anyone diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia or facial pain, TNA UK can be a vital source of support.
TNA UK is a UK charity supporting people affected by trigeminal neuralgia and facial pain. The charity offers a Freephone Helpline, e-helpline, national webinars, Regional Support Groups and information for patients, carers and families.
TNA UK Freephone Helpline: 0800 999 1899
Website: www.tna.org.uk
As CEO of TNA UK, I have had the privilege of hosting webinars with leading clinicians and specialists. These sessions help people understand the condition, ask better questions and feel less isolated.
Regional Support Groups also give people a chance to meet others who understand the daily reality of TN. That connection matters. Pain can isolate people, but support can help them feel seen.
Trigeminal neuralgia remains under-recognised. Too many people spend years searching for answers. Too many are told the pain is dental, emotional or exaggerated. Too many families do not understand the scale of the condition until they see someone they love living through an attack.
There is now a moment to change that.
Better awareness can lead to earlier diagnosis, better conversations with clinicians, stronger support for families and more pressure for research. People living with trigeminal neuralgia need more than sympathy. They need recognition, treatment, support and hope grounded in truth.
https://www.tna.org.uk/helpline/
https://www.tna.org.uk/support-groups/
https://www.tna.org.uk/news/trigeminal-neuralgia-and-dental-pain/
External links:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trigeminal-neuralgia/
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