Many believe that the protective sheath of the trigeminal nerve deteriorates, sending abnormal messages along the nerve. Like static in a telephone line, these abnormalities disrupt the normal signal of the nerve and cause pain. Some types of facial pains can result from an infected tooth, sinus infections, or previous nerve injury. Because the causes of pain vary, each patient should undergo a medical evaluation. Trigeminal neuralgia affects 1 in every 25,000 people, and occurs slightly more in women than men.
Patients are usually middle age and older.
Some individuals with multiple sclerosis also develop trigeminal neuralgia. When a patient first experiences facial pain, the personal physician or dentist is often consulted. If the pain requires further evaluation, a consultation with a neurologist or a neurosurgeon may be recommended. Few causes of trigeminal neuralgia are serious. However, the possibility of a tumor or multiple sclerosis must be ruled out.