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Central nervous system
Central nervous system

Trigeminal neuralgia
Definition:

Trigeminal neuralgia is an extremely painful inflammation of the trigeminal nerve which causes severe lightening-like facial pain and spasm of the facial muscles on the involved side.

These painful attacks may occur after lightly touching different skin areas of the face, along the course of this cranial nerve. Specific medications can be very effective in reducing the rate of attacks, but surgical intervention may be necessary.
Alternative Names:
Tic douloureux

Review Date: 5/2/2002
Reviewed By: Alberto Espay, M.D., Department of Neurology, Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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