How to relieve trigeminal neuralgia

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on April 20, 2025
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For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, there are many methods to achieve pain relief. For example, in the early stages of the disease, treatment can be administered through oral medication. Taking appropriate medications can effectively relieve pain and also reduce the frequency and occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia attacks. At the same time, some physical therapies such as massage, tuina, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and electrotherapy can significantly alleviate the pain. Of course, to achieve complete cure, surgical methods are recommended for treatment. We generally advise patients to undergo microvascular decompression surgery, through which the vast majority of patients can achieve good therapeutic effects.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Early manifestations of trigeminal neuralgia

For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, the initial symptoms mainly include sudden onset of intense pain that stops abruptly. The nature of the pain is generally sharp, resembling sharp stabbing or knife-like pain. In most cases, trigger points are easily formed on the face, commonly appearing around the bilateral nostrils and corners of the mouth as fixed trigger points. Touching these trigger points can easily trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia, which lasts for a relatively short duration, typically from a few seconds to several seconds. In most cases, attacks are more likely to be triggered when the patient is tired, fatigued, or under mental stress.

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Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
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What should I do about trigeminal neuralgia of the teeth?

Trigeminal neuralgia in the teeth is generally caused by lesions in the areas controlled by the trigeminal nerve, leading to pain. This pain has trigger points, which could be a particular patch of skin or triggered during face washing, producing paroxysmal, electric shock-like pain. It is important to differentiate this from tooth-related nerve pain. Sometimes toothache may resemble symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. If dental treatment does not relieve the pain, it might be trigeminal neuralgia related to the teeth. Trigeminal neuralgia requires medication, and there are many types of treatments available. If medicinal treatment proves ineffective, surgical treatment or acupuncture may be employed. In severe cases, nerve tissue blockage can be performed to temporarily relieve the pain.

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Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
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Does trigeminal neuralgia cause dizziness?

For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, they generally do not experience dizziness. Trigeminal neuralgia is mostly due to the presence of a significant culpable vessel around the trigeminal nerve, which continuously compresses the nerve, leading to abnormal discharges of the trigeminal nerve. This is manifested as severe headache pain in the area distributed by the roots of the trigeminal nerve, most often characterized by sharp, stabbing pain, resembling a knife cut or tearing, which is often unbearable for patients. As the condition progressively worsens, the frequency and occurrences of trigeminal neuralgia attacks also gradually increase, often causing extreme pain for the patients.

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Written by Li Pei
Neurosurgery
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What should I do if trigeminal neuralgia recurs?

After the recurrence of trigeminal neuralgia, oral medication can be considered as the initial treatment. If the effect of the medication is not clear, or the side effects are intolerable, then balloon compression or radiofrequency treatment can be considered. These two methods can be used repeatedly, but they also have a certain recurrence rate. If neither medication nor radiofrequency treatment achieves satisfactory results, then surgical treatment can be considered. Microvascular decompression surgery of the trigeminal nerve can be performed under a microscope, where the trigeminal nerve and the blood vessel compressing it are separated, which can fundamentally resolve trigeminal neuralgia. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Liu Hong Mei
Neurology
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Is occipital neuralgia the same as trigeminal neuralgia?

Occipital neuralgia and trigeminal neuralgia are different; these are two distinct diseases with different onset times, affected areas, and pain characteristics. Occipital neuralgia generally occurs in the back of the head and is associated with cervical spondylosis, neck muscle tension, spasms, injury, trauma, and inflammation, typically triggering pain in the distribution area of the greater occipital nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia generally affects the distribution area of the trigeminal nerve, causing very intense pain, which may be like lightning or a burning sensation. It is typically triggered by washing the face, brushing teeth, or touching and can start and stop suddenly.