Trigeminal Neuralgia — When Your Face Feels a Sudden Jolt
Table of Contents
Sudden, severe stabbing pain
While washing your face or brushing your teeth, an electric-like, severe pain suddenly shoots through one side of your face. It can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may repeat dozens of times a day. Trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve pain caused by irritation of the trigeminal nerve (the fifth cranial nerve), which controls facial sensation. It is often called "one of the most severe pains a human being can experience."
Characteristics of the pain
- Lightning-like stabbing pain on one side of the face (forehead, cheek, or jaw)
- Triggered by light stimulation such as washing the face, brushing teeth, shaving, eating, or talking
- Completely normal between attacks
- Frequency and intensity tend to increase over time
Korean medicine approach
In Korean medicine, trigeminal neuralgia is viewed as wind-cold or wind-heat invading the facial meridians, blocking the flow of qi and blood. In some cases, long-standing blood stasis or phlegm-fluid retention compresses the nerve.
- Acupuncture: Stimulating points such as Xiaguan, Jiache, Sibai, Hegu (LI4), and Taichong (LR3) opens the meridians and relieves pain. The efficacy of acupuncture for trigeminal neuralgia has been demonstrated in numerous clinical studies.
- Electroacupuncture and pharmacopuncture: A microcurrent applied through the needles or herbal extracts injected into acupoints enhance the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
- Herbal medicine: Modified Chuanxiong-chatiao-san or Gegen-tang removes pathogenic wind and promotes the circulation of qi and blood.
Early treatment prevents chronicity
If left untreated, the pain threshold gradually decreases, attacks are triggered by even lighter stimulation, and the pain-free intervals become shorter. Active early treatment can significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of pain. If you keep experiencing unexplained shock-like pain in your face, please seek medical care as soon as possible.