If you suffer from bouts of sharp pain or spasm on one side of the face, most likely you have Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Also known as 'Tic Douloureux', a french nickname meaning 'painful twitch', Trigeminal Neuralgia is a disorder of the nerve in the face called Trigeminal Nerve or 5th Cranial Nerve.
The Trigeminal Nerve controls much of the facial movements such as chewing, producing saliva and tears, and sending facial signals to the brain.
This unfortunate disorder of the nerve is considered one of the most painful experience.
Trigeminal Neuralgia induces episodes of spasm or electric shocks that last 2 minutes or less.
The pattern of attacks are irregular, and relief from the pain is short-lived, from a few seconds to a few minutes before another facial throbbing pain.
As a consequence of the bouts of attack, sufferers find it too difficult to carry on their daily activities and routine.
Due to the effects of Trigeminal Neuralgia, sufferers will often wince or twitch their face.
In some people, the attacks can occur as much as 100 times a day! Unfortunately with time, Trigeminal Neuralgia occurs more frequently, and become more painful.
In fact, Trigeminal Neuralgia affects women three times more frequently than men.
Trigeminal Neuralgiais very sensitive to pressure, simple touching of the face, talking, drinking hot or cold beverages, and eating can trigger bouts of attacks.
The spasms starts from the jaw area of the face, and is most severe at the ends of the nerve near the nostrils, lip, chin or teeth.
Although the origin of Trigeminal Neuralgia is not known, doctors believe it is caused by the degeneration or irritation of the Trigeminal Nerve.
But it is now known how the nerve is damaged.
Trigeminal Neuralgia is a painful twitch in the face.