Very rarely, yes. Most of the time trigeminal neuralgia is on one side of the face. On the MRIs, we may find compression on both sides, but they may not have symptoms on both sides. If someone has symptoms on both sides, we have to look at a different diagnosis.
Question
Can trigeminal neuralgia symptoms present on both sides of the face?
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Similar Questions
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Trigeminal Neuralgia is not a common disorder, but is also not as uncommon as you think. Trigeminal Neuralgia is a type of facial pain that affects half the face and has a very characteristic feature, like sharp and shooting pain. We’re not really sure what the incidence is in Singapore. There is no exact data, but around 0. 03% of the population has it. So, maybe several thousand patients have it per year.
When is surgery necessary for trigeminal neuralgia?
Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of severe facial pain whereby sudden, electrical or stabbing pain that is felt on one side of the face. There is often a trigger, such as eating, brushing teeth, or even talking. The pain comes from the trigeminal nerve usually because it is compressed by a blood vessel, although other causes such as tumours or multiple sclerosis must be excluded. The first-line treatment of trigeminal neuralgia is with medications.