how long does an episode of trigeminal neuralgia typically last?
Trigeminal neuralgia effects about 50,000 people in the US. Causes include tumor, multiple sclerosis, and vascular loops impinging on the root entry zone, but rarely do viruses cause TN. Sometimes Herpes Zoster infections involving the forehead and eye on one side can lead to TN, but this is not particularly common. The largest group of patients are “idiopathic” which means the exact cause is not known. MRI scans do not always show the blood vessel pulsating against the nerve. That does not always mean it is not there. The condition does tend to get better and worse and there can be periods when there is no pain. The duration of these remissions is unpredictable. However, in the majority of cases, the condition gets worse as the patient ages. The episodes come on more frequently and get more severe. In the early stages, anticonvulsants are often effective. Over time, patients often need different medications, and may have to use combinations. There are two definitive types of treatment
