Neuralgia

Neuralgia, recurrent pain along the path of a sensory nerve. Neuralgia may be caused by a disorder that affects a nerve, such as tooth decay or carpal tunnel syndrome, or it may accompany such diseases as diabetes mellitus or certain vitamin deficiencies. In some cases the cause of neuralgia cannot be determined. Whatever the cause, the affected nerve does not become inflamed and its tissues are not damaged or destroyed.

Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most common forms of neuralgia, involving the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face, eyes, nose, mouth, and jaws to the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by overwhelming sensations of stabbing pain that may be momentary or may last for minutes or hours. When it is short-lived, the condition is also known as tic douloureux. Trigeminal neuralgia may be relieved by analgesics such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen. In severe cases, surgery may be performed to reduce pressure on the nerve or to sever it.

In postherpetic neuralgia, pain occurs at a site earlier affected by herpes zoster, or shingles, in which blisters develop on the skin along the path of a nerve. Postherpetic neuralgia may last for weeks or months after the illness, but the pain may be alleviated with analgesics.