FACE, PAIN IN, AT TEMPLE, RUNNING TO CHEEK OR JAW
Description and Possible Medical Problems
A sudden sharp, stabbing pain in your face that begins at your temple and radiates to your cheek or jaw can be frightening. But when the pain arrives for no apparent reason, occurs intermittently for up to several weeks, and then disappears completely for anywhere from a day to several months before striking again, you probably have a condition called trigeminal neuralgia.
Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by its unpredictability and its sharp, sometimes brief ashes of pain. Men and women over the age of 50 tend to have the condition, and the frequency of attacks increases significantly over the age of 70.
The cause of trigeminal neuralgia is unknown. Though some studies point to a brain tumor or a blood vessel pressing on the nerve as the culprit, the exact cause cannot be determined.
Treatment
If the pain recurs with regularity and makes it difficult for you to functior your doctor may recommend you take phenytoin or carba-mazepine, anticonvulsant medications that may help reduce the number of attacks. You may need to take the medication for a number of weeks after the initial attack.
For severe cases of trigeminal neuralgia that don’t respond to anticonvulsants, your doctor may suggest you undergo an operation that either destroys the trigeminal nerve or reduces its sensitivity, though the final outcome of the operation is difficult to predict and may lead to permanent paralysis of one side of your face. However, in the entire time I’ve spent working as a physician, I have never seen this surgery performed. In addition to the anticonvulsant medications I’ve mentioned, some people with trigeminal neuralgia can also take the antidepressant Elavil to control their pain.
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