Facial pain can be sharp or dull, throbbing or achy, constant or sporadic. Trigeminal neuralgia, the main type we treat, involves the trigeminal nerve. It is a long-term condition. Some other types, such as those linked to an injury or infection, often go away after the cause is identified and treated.
Trigeminal nerve: The trigeminal nerve carries sensations from the face to the brain. It has three main branches on each side of the head, with each branch connecting to a region of the face:
The nerve helps control functions such as biting, chewing and swallowing. Itβs one of 12 pairs of cranial nerves that connect the brain to the body.
The trigeminal nerve divides into three main branches, with each leading to a region of the face. When a blood vessel presses on the nerve where it branches, the patient can feel intense pain. (Illustration by Andy Rekito/OHSU)
Trigeminal neuralgia: Trigeminal neuralgia occurs most often when a blood vessel presses against the trigeminal nerve, causing piercing pain.