Trigeminal Neuralgia: The Facial Pain Disorder Often Called the ‘Suicide Disease’

February 19, 2026

Trigeminal Neuralgia: The Facial Pain Disorder Often Called the ‘Suicide Disease’

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KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
19 February, 2026

Trigeminal Neuralgia: The Facial Pain Disorder Often Called the ‘Suicide Disease’

The trigeminal nerve is the largest cranial nerve in the skull, with 3 main branches and helps in ensuring that all sensory activities take place without issue- like touch, temperature, feeling pain, chewing etc. When there is trigeminal nerve compression, it can cause severe facial nerve pain, along with other symptoms related to trigeminal neuralgia (TN). When facial pain is severe enough to disrupt your daily quality of life, you should get in touch with a nerve specialist at KIMS Sunshine- the best hospital in Hyderabad.

Facial Pain Disorder Causes

The main cause for trigeminal neuralgia is nerve compression. But, the reason for the compression may differ-

Primary TN is when a nearby blood vessel compresses the nerve root. Many individuals report pain on the right side of their face.
Secondary TN is when you suffer from a neurodegenerative condition like multiple sclerosis, a tumour or some kind of arteriovenous malformation (when the arteries and veins are not normal) and this can lead to nerve compression as a secondary cause. Affected individuals report severe facial pain on both sides in this case.
Idiopathic TN- this is when the cause for facial pain is not known, but symptoms are present.

You are more likely to suffer from this condition if you are a woman, if you smoke, have high blood pressure or there is a family history of close relatives suffering from TN respectively.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Symptoms

These are some of the symptoms that affected individuals report-

Burning or recurrent sharp facial pain that has a stabbing quality.
Throbbing and numbness is also common.

The intensity of symptoms can be different too-

The first is paroxysmal TN- where sharp, intense pain comes and goes in an episodic manner- with each episode lasting for a few minutes to hours at a time.
The second where there is continuous pain- the intensity of pain is on the lower end, but when it is continuous, with stabbing or burning sensations in between, it can become hard to manage in the long term.

Some triggers for symptoms include simple activities like chewing, shaving, eating, drinking, flossing, brushing, putting on make up or even when there is a very slight breeze or similarly benign sensation that touches your face. The pain can be very severe and reduce quality of life significantly, if not managed in the right way. This can lead to patients having suicidal thoughts, as they are in constant fear of when the next electric jolt or episode may occur.

Diagnosis Of Trigeminal Neuralgia

Along with a physical exam and discussion on your symptoms, other conditions are ruled out systematically. You will be asked to get an MRI scan. An MRI for trigeminal neuralgia is the only sure way for doctors to check for nerve compression that may occur due to an errant blood vessel or tumour pressing against the nerve root.

Treatment For Trigeminal Neuralgia-

Treatment approaches include the use of specific medications, surgery and therapy.

Medications include anti-seizure medications like carbamazepine which can help initially, though efficiency reduces over time. Other examples include lamotrigine, pregabalin or gabapentin, among others. Muscle relaxants may also be prescribed, if spasms are present.

Surgery is suggested when medication or secondary causes for TN are present.

Microvascular decompression surgery is the most effective option, which provides long term relief but it is pretty invasive.
Radiosurgery is an option where radiation is focused on the trigeminal nerve roots, so that pain signals get blocked. But, it can take over a month or longer for you to feel any relief.
Rhizotomy and neurectomy are other options.

Other therapies include CBT, talk therapy, botox injections or nerve blocks for temporary relief.

Conclusion

Trigeminal neuralgia can severely affect your quality of life as pain can be nerve wracking or life altering to deal with. When your pain does not go away, is triggered by minor sensory stimuli and does not let you live life confidently like before, it is time to consult a neurologist at the best hospital in Hyderabad, without any delay. So, call us at KIMS Sunshine for a consultation today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain disorder affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain. It causes sudden, severe, electric shock–like pain on one side of the face. Episodes last seconds to minutes and can recur in clusters. The condition most often involves the maxillary or mandibular branches of the nerve.

Why is it called the “suicide disease”?

TN is called the “suicide disease” because of the extreme intensity of its pain. Attacks can be disabling, interfering with eating, speaking, shaving, or brushing teeth. The unpredictability and severity of the pain can lead to anxiety, depression and social withdrawal when not effectively treated.

Can dental problems mimic trigeminal neuralgia?

Yes. TN pain is frequently mistaken for toothache because it affects the jaw, teeth, or gums. However, dental pain is constant or throbbing and linked to infection or decay visible on examination or X-ray. In TN, the pain is sharp, shock-like and triggered by light touch or routine activities, with no clear dental cause.

What medications are used to treat it?

First-line treatment includes anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine, which stabilize nerve firing. Other options include gabapentin, baclofen and lamotrigine. These medications reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks and require medical supervision for dose adjustment and side-effect monitoring.

What is microvascular decompression?

Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a surgical procedure used when medication fails. A neurosurgeon makes a small opening behind the ear to access the trigeminal nerve and places a cushion between the nerve and the compressing blood vessel. This relieves pressure and can provide long-term pain relief without damaging the nerve.