Tic douloureux

• Very painful, sharp electric-like spasms that usually last a few seconds or minutes, but can become constant
• Pain is usually only on one side of the face, often around the eye, cheek, and lower part of the face
• Pain may be triggered by touch or sounds
• Painful attacks of trigeminal neuralgia can be triggered by common, everyday activities, such as:
  • Brushing teeth
  • Chewing
  • Drinking
  • Eating
  • Lightly touching the face
  • Shaving

A neurologic examination is usually normal.

Tests that are done to look for the cause of the problem include:

• Blood tests
• MRI of the head
• Trigeminal reflex testing

Images

Central nervous system

Review Date: 06/16/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)