”A toothache is not a disease, but a pain that kills”, many patients tend to go to the dentist once the toothache is extracted. However, in some patients, even if all the teeth in the painful area are extracted, the toothache still does not improve. This is because the root of the disease is not in the tooth, but in the nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia and odontogenic head and facial pain have similar symptoms and are easily misdiagnosed. trigeminal
trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a neuropathic pain characterized by recurrent episodes of brief and severe electric shock-like pain in the distribution area of the facial trigeminal nerve, and is a relatively common disorder in functional neurosurgery. Typical trigeminal neuralgia is usually characterized by: (1) paroxysmal, lightning-like pain, which comes and goes rapidly; (2) a clear trigger point (a certain area in the facial trigeminal nerve distribution area is particularly sensitive, and the slightest touch can cause a pain attack, which is also called the trigger point); (3) a clear pain trigger action, such as brushing teeth, chewing, washing face; and (4) a clear recollection of the pain process. In contrast, atypical patients generally show: ① pain that is persistent or intermittent vague pain; ② no clear trigger point; ③ facial numbness or superficial hyperalgesia. Physical examination generally has no obvious positive signs. Treatment methods 1.Medication: carbamazepine, etc. 2.Surgical treatment: ① trigeminal nerve hemimelia and peripheral branch closure; ② trigeminal nerve radiofrequency destruction; ③ trigeminal nerve hemimelia balloon compression; ④ trigeminal nerve sensory root dissection; ⑤ microvascular decompression (first choice).