Trigeminal neuralgia description

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http://www.ninds.nih.gov/healinfo/disorder/trigemin/trigemin.htm

National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, land 20892

Written July 1997

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

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*What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

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DESCRIPTION: Trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, is a

condition that affects the trigeminal nerve (the 5th cranial nerve), one

of the largest nerves in the head. The trigeminal nerve is responsible

for sending impulses of touch, pain, pressure, and temperature to the

brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead, and around the eyes.

Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by a sudden, severe, electric

shock-like or stabbing pain typically felt on one side of the jaw or

cheek. The disorder is more common in women than in men and rarely

affects anyone younger than 50 [except Lymies. The attacks of pain, which

generally last several seconds and may be repeated one after the other, may

be

triggered by talking, brushing teeth, touching the face, chewing, or

swallowing. The attacks may come and go throughout the day and last for

days, weeks, or months at a time, and then disappear for months or

years.

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These articles, available from a medical library, may provide more

in-depth information on trigeminal neuralgia:

Loeser, J. " Cranial Neuralgias. " In The Management of Pain, vol. 1, 2nd

edition, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia, pp. 676-686 (1990).

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American Chronic Pain Association

P.O. Box 850

Rocklin, CA 95677

(916) 632-0922

National Chronic Pain Outreach Association, Inc.

P.O. Box 274

Millboro, VA 24460

(540) 862-9437

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I removed information that wasn't pertinent to Lyme Disease.