Glossopharnygeal Neuralgia Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a painful syndrome similar to trigeminal neuralgia though much less common. This nerve transmits sensory signals to the back of the throat and the base of the tongue. There is one nerve for the right side and one for the left.
Symptoms are always on one side or the other.
Cause The specific cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is not known though many cases are related to pressure on the nerve by loops of small blood vessels in the head. Pain in the same location may be caused by throat tumors. The main symptom of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is severe pain located on one side of the back of the throat, the tonsil region and the back part of the tongue. The pain lasts for short periods of time but is frequently recurrent. As always, a careful history and physical examination are the first steps in diagnosis.