Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V), which carries sensation from the face to the brain. It causes sudden, severe, electric shock–like facial pain that can be triggered by everyday activities such as talking, eating, or even a light breeze.
Typical symptoms include:
The most common cause is vascular compression — a small blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve near its origin in the brainstem. Other causes include multiple sclerosis, tumours, or post-surgical scarring, although many cases occur without a clear structural problem. Because of the severity of pain and its potential impact on daily life, prompt specialist assessment is essential.
Trigeminal neuralgia can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Our pain psychology and rehabilitation specialists provide coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and pacing advice to reduce anxiety and improve resilience.
At Wessex Pain Clinic, we work as a team and meet regularly to discuss complex, treatment resistant or unusual cases. As such you will often receive the expertise of several pain consultants. We believe that we are one of very few pain clinics to offer this.
First-line treatment usually involves anti-seizure medicines that stabilise nerve activity, including:
When medication fails to provide sufficient relief or causes side effects, we offer several minimally invasive procedures, including:
In treatment resistant cases, we coordinate with neurosurgical specialists for surgical management.
Our friendly team is on hand to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch at any time.
