Consider Trigeminal Neuralgia
TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA
Unlike cluster headache (CH) and other short lasting primary headaches, trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is not classified as a primary headache but as a cranial neuralgia due to there being a disorder of the trigeminal – the 5th and largest cranial nerve. TN manifests itself as very short episodes of intense, electric-shock like pain in the eyes, nose, scalp, forehead, jaws, and even the lips.
As with CH, the pain is most likely to be one-sided, but some sufferers experience the pain at different times on both sides. TN can begin at any age but sufferers are most likely to start suffering in their 50s. Unlike CH, however, TN attacks can be physically triggered by touch, and hence normal routines such as teeth brushing, applying make-up or even a slight breeze can trigger an attack. A disorder which is less intense, but causes constant, dull, boring or aching pain, sometimes accompanied with the electric-shock like stabs of pain, is a trigeminal neuropathic pain, sometimes called atypical trigeminal neuralgia.
For more information visit the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK website at:
If most of your attacks are on the forehead, or you have eye watering or redness when the pain strikes, or both, consider SUNCT/SUNA
If this brief description does not match your headache type, go to Section 1 – Q.2
Treatment
Trigeminal neuralgia can normally be successfully treated with medications called anticonvulsants. The preferred choice for prevention is a drug called carbamazapine and in most cases sufferers respond well within two days, after which the amount of the drug is reduced to the lowest level that still controls the pain.
Other medications often considered include oxcarbazepine, gabapentin, lamotrigine and baclofen. Intractable chronic cases, where the medication is ineffective or the side-effects are intolerable, often require surgery.
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