Trigeminal Neuralgia & Chest Pain

Trigeminal neuralgia has been dubbed the 'suicide disorder,' because of severe and unrelenting facial pain. Some of the most difficult pain syndromes to treat are nerve disorders. Medications used to treat nerve pain syndromes are sometimes ineffective, and operations to cure them can occasionally leave patients with pain that is significantly worse than the original pain. There is a direct link between trigeminal neuralgia and chest pain that involves a chemical surge of catecholamine, which can mimic a heart attack.

Identification

• Trigeminal neuralgia is identified by features of severe facial pain lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes, but can be followed by periods of remission and further attacks. The correlation between trigeminal neuralgia and chest pain is recognized when chest pain occurs directly after the attack begins.

Triggers

• The agonizing facial pain of trigeminal neuralgia can be triggered by everyday activities, such as chewing, smiling, or even brushing one's teeth. Reports of a slight breeze have also been known to trigger these attacks, which have been described as electric jolts, stabbing, or burning in nature.

Significance

• If left untreated, pain disorders such as trigeminal neuralgia can lead to depression and a general decrease in the quality of life for sufferers. A neurologist is a medical practitioner that specializes in diseases and disorders of the spine and central nervous system, and should always be your first line of defense for diagnosis and treatment.

Theories/Speculation

• One theory suggests that compression of the trigeminal nerve from a tumor or vein causes local demyelination, in which the protective sheath that surrounds nerves has worn away. This can result in a complex misfiring of faulty nerve impulses.

  At first glance, one might think that the severe pain of this disorder causes anxiety related chest pain, which simply is not the case. Pain of any kind is caused by chemical messengers that tell the brain something is wrong. Unfortunately, finding the root cause is not always simple, and a domino effect can occur with the onset of pain and subsequent chemical surges.

Mechanism

• A medical anomaly called Coeur Douloureux is associated with trigeminal neuralgia. Chest pain following an attack is caused by a temporary surge in the chemical catecholamine. This is a natural response to sudden and severe pain, or perceived threat. The transient chest pain is caused by a ballooning that occurs in the mid region of the heart ventricles, and although not typically serious, this symptom can mimic a heart attack.

Considerations

• Even though there is a direct link between attacks of trigeminal neuralgia and the release of catecholamine, other causes of chest pain must be ruled out first. Work closely with your neurologist and pharmacist to fully understand this disorder, and all possible side effects of the medications used to treat nerve pain. Please make sure that your pharmacist is aware of all prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and herbal supplements that might cause adverse reactions with your treatment.