Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for carrying sensation from the face to the brain. The most common symptom of this condition is bouts of excruciating pain from mild stimulation, such as brushing your teeth or encountering a light breeze. Since there is no test that is specific for diagnosing this condition, how is trigeminal neuralgia diagnosed?
When to See the Doctor
If you begin to experience facial pain that is prolonged or recurring, you should call your doctor to make an appointment. This is especially true if the pain is not relieved by taking over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen. Even though there is no cure for this condition, there are several treatment options available. Therefore, the sooner you seek medical attention, the sooner you can begin a treatment plan that could potentially relieve your pain.
What to Expect
Based on your symptoms, you may be referred to a neurologist, which is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the brain and nervous system. When you go in for your appointment, your doctor will likely begin by asking you a number of questions about your symptoms and your medical history. Some of the questions you should be prepared for include:
-
What are the symptoms you are experiencing?
-
Where are your symptoms located?
-
How long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
-
Have they seemed to worsen over time?
-
How often are you experiencing the bouts of facial pain?
-
Have you noticed if anything specific seems to trigger your facial pain?
-
How long does an attack of pain seem to last usually?
-
Have you ever had surgery on your face, such as dental surgery or sinus surgery?
-
Have you ever experienced any facial trauma, including accidents or injuries that affected your face?
-
Have you tried to treat your facial pain with anything up to this point?
-
Has anything helped to relieve your facial pain?
-
How much is this pain affecting your quality of life?
Diagnosing Trigeminal Neuralgia
There are additional tests that your doctor may recommend just to be sure that your condition is trigeminal neuralgia. These tests can also help to determine the underlying cause for your condition. Tests commonly used to diagnose trigeminal neuralgia include:
-
Neurological examination: This is an examination that involves your doctor examining specific parts of your face in order to determine the exact location of the pain. This will help your doctor to know which branches of the trigeminal nerve are causing your pain. Reflex tests will also help to determine if your symptoms are being caused by a compressed nerve or if they are the result of another condition.
-
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): This is a scan of the inside of your head that will help to determine if your symptoms are being caused by certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis or a brain tumor.
Additional tests may also be recommended to rule out other conditions as well. It is important that your doctor is able to accurately diagnose the cause of your condition as the treatment plan can vary depending on the underlying cause.
