Also called “trigeminal neuralgia”, facial neuralgia is the irritation of one of the 12 pairs of cranial nerves that supply the face, the trigeminal nerve, or number 5 nerve. sharp pains that affect one side of the face. The pain, similar to electric shocks, occurs during certain stimuli as banal as brushing teeth, drinking, chewing food, shaving or smiling. We know that 4 to 13 people out of 100 are affected by facial neuralgia. Another characteristic sign of the disease is the existence of a contraction of the facial muscles related to pain, similar to a grimace or a tic. Reason for which, the facial neuralgia is sometimes qualified of ” painful tic ».

Causes

Facial neuralgia is irritation of the trigeminal nerve, responsible for the innervation of part of the face and which sends painful messages to the brain. Several hypotheses exist on the causes of this irritation. Most often, facial neuralgia is undoubtedly linked to contact between the trigeminal nerve and a blood vessel (especially the superior cerebellar artery). This vessel puts pressure on the nerve and disrupts its normal functioning. Another hypothesis put forward is the existence of an intense electrical activity of the trigeminal nerve, like epilepsy, explaining the effectiveness of antiepileptic treatments in facial neuralgia. Finally, trigeminal neuralgia is sometimes secondary to another pathology in 20% of cases, neurodegenerative disease, multiple sclerosis, tumor, aneurysm, infection (shingles, syphilis, etc.), trauma compressing the nerve. In many cases, no cause is found.

Consultation

In the absence of effective treatment, the facial neuralgia is a serious handicap in everyday life. When prolonged, it can lead to depression and, in some cases, even suicide.

When to consult

Feel free to see your doctor if you feel frequent facial pain, a fortiori if the usual painkillers (paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, etc.) cannot relieve you.

There is no specific test or additional examination allowing the definite diagnosis of a facial neuralgia. It is thanks to the very particular aspect of the pain that the doctor manages to make the diagnosis, even if, the symptoms of facial neuralgia are sometimes wrongly attributed to the jaw or the teeth, then leading to jaw or dental interventions. unnecessary.