The problem, say doctors, is related to the nerve called the trigeminal nerve. It supplies feeling to the face. Doctors say there's something that is irritating the nerve and causing the sensation of pain throughout the face. It's recently been suggested that the pain is caused by an abnormal blood vessel hitting the nerve. The touching essentially sets up a seizure in the nerve, which is why anti-seizure medications are prescribed.
Pain medications are ineffective in treating the condition.
Doctors say for pain medication to be effective someone would have to take so much medication that they would end up in a coma. The pain generally comes on all at once and is extremely intense for a few seconds then goes away. For some people, there are certain triggers such as chewing or talking or brushing their teeth. For others it just comes on without warning. The condition affects less than 1 in 1,000 individuals.