Which condition is characterized by episodes of excruciating facial pain triggered by stimulation of a trigger zone?

Which condition is characterized by episodes of excruciating facial pain triggered by stimulation of a trigger zone?

• A. Bell palsy
• B. Trigeminal neuralgia or tic douloureux
• C. Migraine headache
• D. Sinusitis

Answer: (B)

Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by sudden, severe facial pain that comes in brief, attacks and is reliably triggered by stimulation of facial areas called trigger zones. The pain is often described as electric shocks or excruciating jolts on one side of the face, lasting from seconds to a couple of minutes, and it can be set off by everyday actions like brushing teeth, speaking, chewing, or even a light touch of the skin. This pattern of paroxysmal, trigger-provoked pain clearly points to involvement of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face. Bell palsy causes facial weakness from facial nerve dysfunction rather than painful, episodic facial attacks; a migraine headache involves a pulsating head pain with possible nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light, not discrete trigger-zone–driven facial episodes; sinusitis produces facial pain related to sinus inflammation with congestion or fever, not sudden paroxysms triggered by touch. The combination of intense, brief facial pain and a trigger zone is the hallmark of trigeminal neuralgia, sometimes called tic douloureux.

Trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by sudden, severe facial pain that comes in brief, attacks and is reliably triggered by stimulation of facial areas called trigger zones. The pain is often described as electric shocks or excruciating jolts on one side of the face, lasting from seconds to a couple of minutes, and it can be set off by everyday actions like brushing teeth, speaking, chewing, or even a light touch of the skin. This pattern of paroxysmal, trigger-provoked pain clearly points to involvement of the trigeminal nerve, which supplies sensation to the face.

Bell palsy causes facial weakness from facial nerve dysfunction rather than painful, episodic facial attacks; a migraine headache involves a pulsating head pain with possible nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light, not discrete trigger-zone–driven facial episodes; sinusitis produces facial pain related to sinus inflammation with congestion or fever, not sudden paroxysms triggered by touch. The combination of intense, brief facial pain and a trigger zone is the hallmark of trigeminal neuralgia, sometimes called tic douloureux.