Causes of trigeminal neuralgia

We all know that the trigeminal nerve is a critical part of our body's nerves. Once we do not pay attention to our daily living habits, it is likely to cause trigeminal neuralgia. So what are the causes of trigeminal neuralgia? Let us read the introduction of the following article together, which can help us better get rid of the influence of these factors in our lives and better protect our health.

It is important to understand the cause of trigeminal neuralgia. It can help us control the disease at the source to prevent the condition from worsening. Therefore, we should pay more attention to it in our daily life and never stay up late.

First reported by Nicolas Andri of France in 1756. Since most attacks are accompanied by facial muscle twitching, they are called "painful tics". It refers to a recurrent, short-term, paroxysmal, severe pain that is confined to the area innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia can be divided into primary and secondary types. The cause and pathogenesis of primary trigeminal neuralgia are still unclear. Most people believe that the lesions are in the trigeminal ganglion and its sensory nerve roots. It may also be related to factors such as small blood vessel malformations and bone deformities in the petrous bone, which lead to mechanical compression and traction on the nerves and nutritional metabolic disorders. Secondary trigeminal neuralgia, also known as symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia, is often one of the clinical symptoms of a certain disease, such as caused by tumors, inflammation, trauma in the cerebellopontine angle and its adjacent areas, and lesions in the branches of the trigeminal nerve.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a severe paroxysmal pain disease located in the distribution area of ​​the trigeminal nerve. Clinically, they are classified according to their cause or site of occurrence.

1. Classification by etiology: Depending on whether the cause is clear, it is divided into primary trigeminal neuralgia and secondary trigeminal neuralgia.

(1) Primary trigeminal neuralgia (idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia): Trigeminal neuralgia for which no definite cause can be found is clinically called "primary trigeminal neuralgia". In the past, it was believed that this disease, which accounts for the majority of clinical cases, is a disease with transient severe pain in the distribution area of ​​the trigeminal nerve and no organic damage can be found. It is more common in middle-aged and elderly people over 40 years old, accounting for 70% to 80%. The youngest age is only a teenager and the oldest is 92 years old. The male to female incidence ratio varies from report to report. According to a statistical analysis of 1,454 cases from 15 domestic hospitals, there are more males than females, with 788 males and 666 females. In another group of 4,386 cases of trigeminal neuralgia in China, there were more females than males, with a ratio of 3:2.

(2) Secondary trigeminal neuralgia (symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia): refers to trigeminal neuralgia caused by secondary damage to the trigeminal nerve due to various organic lesions inside and outside the skull. It is more common in patients under 40 years old. The difference from primary trigeminal neuralgia is that the pain attack duration is usually longer, or it is continuous or paroxysmal pain without trigger points. Physical examination can reveal objective manifestations of trigeminal nerve involvement and signs of primary disease, but it may also be completely negative. The diagnosis can usually be confirmed by CT or MRI examinations.

2. According to the site of occurrence, trigeminal neuralgia can be divided into bilateral and unilateral trigeminal neuralgia. It can be further divided into: pain in the first limb; pain in the second limb; pain in the third limb; pain in the first and second limbs; pain in the second and third limbs; pain in the first, second, and third limbs. The disease site is more common on the right side than on the left side. The most common cause of pain is when 2 or 3 branches are affected at the same time, and the second branch is the most affected.

3. Clinical characteristics: The pain occurs in paroxysmal manner. Apart from the fear of prolonged pain, the patient did not experience any pain during the second attack. When an attack occurs, it feels like a lightning piercing. Pain attacks often manifest as sudden and paroxysmal attacks that can last for 15 minutes or longer, with the frequency ranging from several times a day to several times a month.

In fact, we may know some of the causes of trigeminal neuralgia, but we do not pay attention to the development of these factors in our lives, which leads to more people suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. In order to help us better prevent the occurrence of trigeminal neuralgia, we should develop good living habits and participate in more related physical exercises to continuously improve our body resistance.