A type of nerve pain, called trigeminal neuralgia, can be very hard to cope with and has become known as an early symptom of multiple sclerosis.
Trigeminal neuralgia affects the fifth cranial nerve, trigeminal, which is responsible for the sensation in the face involved with biting and chewing. It is the largest of the cranial nerves and gets its name from the fact that each nerve has three major branches.
People with trigeminal nerve pain can have attacks that last for days, weeks, or even months at a time. Sadly, in some cases, attacks happen literally hundreds of times a day. It is possible for some sufferers to go into remission for long periods, although doctors have noticed that periods of remission in their patients seems to get shorter as time goes on.
This type of neuropathic pain is described as severe facial pain – like a sharp, shooting or electric shock. The nerve pain can last a few seconds or a few minutes and then just end abruptly. In the vast majority of cases, it impacts part or all of one side of the face. Most people with trigeminal pain complain about discomfort in the lower part of the face.
Some people who have suffered this kind of nerve pain for years go on to develop a continuous aching, throbbing or burning sensation, along with the sharp pain.
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) trigeminal neuralgia is now known as an early symptom of multiple sclerosis, the autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. In fact, AANS states that MS is “usually the cause” of trigeminal nerve pain in young adults.
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