Q What causes trigeminal neuralgia? Why does my facial nerve suddenly hurt so much?
A In most cases, a blood vessel near the brainstem compresses the trigeminal nerve and damages its protective sheath (myelin). The core mechanism is that even a tiny stimulus triggers an explosive burst of excessive pain signals, like an electrical short circuit.
Detailed Answer
The cause of trigeminal neuralgia is, in most cases, compression of the nerve by a blood vessel. When the trigeminal nerve emerging from the brainstem comes into contact with an adjacent vessel such as the superior cerebellar artery and is continuously irritated, the myelin sheath that protects the nerve wears down and becomes damaged. These exposed nerve fibers then generate an explosive burst of excessive pain signals, like an electrical short circuit, in response to even the slightest contact. Rarely, a tumor or multiple sclerosis may be the cause.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we view trigeminal neuralgia as a Wind-Fire (punghwa) state, in which external Wind pathogen (pung-sa) invades the meridians and accumulated Fire-Heat (hwa-yeol) within the body blocks the circulation of qi and blood around the nerve. Together with the structural cause of nerve compression, we design treatment to simultaneously address the qi-stagnation and blood-stasis (gi-che-hyeol-eo) state, in which stagnant qi and blood leave the nerve undernourished and hypersensitive.
Related FAQs
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Q
The pain is so severe that I can't eat or speak. Is it realistically possible to get my daily life back with Korean medicine?
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I can't tell whether it's trigeminal neuralgia or a TMJ disorder. My jaw area hurts and makes sounds when I chew—can they occur together?
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Since developing trigeminal neuralgia, my headaches and anxiety have also gotten worse. I can't tell whether it's caused by the pain or a separate problem.
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I'm so afraid of an attack that I don't even want to talk or eat. How can I reduce attacks in daily life?
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The severe pain keeps me from sleeping, and I feel depressed and anxious. Do sleep and stress management affect trigeminal neuralgia too?
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