Facial nerve
What is trigeminal neuralgia?
Twelve nerves arise from the brain. The fifth of these cranial nerves is responsible for sensation in the face and for the muscles used in chewing. It is called the trigeminal nerve because the root of its sensory branch divides into three. The first branch carries sensation from the forehead and around the eyes, the second from the cheekbone area, and the third from around the jaw. When the trigeminal nerve is compressed by a cerebral blood vessel, a tumor or something similar, severe pain results.
Symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia
It feels like a sudden electric shock to the face.
It feels like a knife stabbing across the whole face.
Trigeminal neuralgia causes excruciating pain that strikes the face without warning, like an electric shock.
- 1
- Lightning-like pain occurs in the facial muscles of the forehead, cheek and jaw.
- 2
- Facial pain often becomes severe when a particular spot is stimulated while eating or brushing the teeth.
- 3
- Even light contact with the face, such as washing or applying makeup, causes unbearable pain.
- 4
- In the early stages it is mistaken for a headache or toothache, so patients take painkillers indiscriminately or even have a tooth extracted at the dentist, yet the facial pain continues.
- 5
- Abnormal symptoms such as facial pain, spasm and paralysis appear alternately.
What is glossopharyngeal neuralgia?
This refers to the severe pain that occurs when the glossopharyngeal nerve, the 9th of the 12 cranial nerves, is compressed by a cerebral blood vessel. Because the glossopharyngeal nerve carries sensation from the back of the tongue, the inner ear, the pharynx and the tonsils, early symptoms can be mistaken for conditions such as otitis media.
Symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia
- 1
- Pain occurs when yawning.
- 2
- Pain at the back of the tongue when speaking.
- 3
- Pain appears when gargling.
- 4
- Pain occurs around the tonsils.
- 5
- A foreign-body sensation and pain occur when swallowing food.
- 6
- Pain appears inside or in front of the ear.
Trigeminal vs. glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Caused by compression of the 5th cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve)
- Lightning-like pain occurs in the facial muscles of the forehead, cheek and jaw.
- Even light contact with the face, such as washing or applying makeup, causes pain.
- Facial pain recurs even after dental treatment.
- Abnormal symptoms such as facial pain, spasm and paralysis appear alternately.
Caused by compression of the 9th cranial nerve (glossopharyngeal nerve)
- Pain occurs when yawning.
- Pain appears at the back of the tongue when talking with people.
- Pain occurs around the tonsils.
- Pain occurs when gargling.
- A foreign-body sensation and pain occur when swallowing food.
- Pain occurs inside or in front of the ear.
What is Microvascular Decompression (MVD)?
Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a treatment in which a surgical sponge is placed between the compressed facial nerve and the cerebral vessel compressing it, separating the nerve from the vessel.
This is a neurosurgical treatment that addresses the underlying cause of hemifacial spasm to achieve a complete cure, and it has been performed for hemifacial spasm and facial palsy for the past 30 years.
Post-treatment precautions
- Treatment results and duration may vary depending on individual symptoms.
- Temporary side effects may occur after treatment and vary with each individual's condition.
