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Does Tongue Thrusting Happen With Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a highly painful chronic condition that afflicts the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for providing sensation to the face, scalp and oral cavity. Also known as tic douloureux, it is frequently triggered by blood vessels compressing the nerve or by degenerative changes in the nerve sheath (myelin). Although trigeminal neuralgia produces several symptoms, tongue thrusting is not typically indicated among them.

  1. The Facts

    • The trigeminal nerve is classified as a cranial nerve, and it originates at the base of the skull. From this base, it forms upper, lower and middle branches that extend to different parts of the face and head. Patients with trigeminal neuralgia may experience symptoms along the line of one or more nerve branches.

    Trigeminal Neuralgia Symptoms

    • According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the main symptom of trigeminal neuralgia is a sudden, stabbing pain that usually occurs on only one side of the cheek or jaw. Some individuals also may experience pain that appears on both sides of the face, although not simultaneously. Typical attacks last for no more than a few seconds, but they may repeat in rapid succession. Depending on the individual, repeated attacks may continue for several days, or as long as weeks or even months. In some cases, attacks of trigeminal neuralgia are preceded by numbness or tingling sensations accompanied by a constant ache.

    Tongue Symptoms

    • Although attacks of trigeminal neuralgia may affect the lips, gums or teeth, impacts such as tongue thrusting are not found among the disorder's effects. Attacks may occur, however, during common everyday actions, such as speaking, chewing, drinking, shaving, applying makeup or brushing one's teeth.

    Diagnosing Trigeminal Neuralgia

    • Trigeminal neuralgia most commonly strikes individuals past the age of 50 years, and it afflicts women more often than men. Doctors typically diagnose the disorder through a combination of a physical examination, investigation of patient symptoms, extensive patient history and complete neurological examination. Patients with facial pain symptoms also may receive a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan designed to detect any intrusions on the trigeminal nerve's pathway.

    Diagnosing Other Facial Disorders

    • Several disorders and physical conditions have characteristics that are similar to trigeminal neuralgia, and misdiagnosis is a constant possibility. Disorders known to cause similar pain symptoms include cluster headaches and postherpetic neuralgia, which can appear in the aftermath of a herpes outbreak. Conditions that can mimic symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia include stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors and direct facial trauma. Similar symptoms also may appear in the aftermath of sinus or oral surgery.

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