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Health condition

Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, electric-shock pains in the face triggered by touch, chewing or cold air - agonising but treatable, with carbamazepine and, for resistant cases, surgery.

Why trust this guide

  • 01

    Editorial team

    Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.

  • 02

    Sourced from guidance

    Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.

  • 03

    Current for 2026

    Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.

Key facts

The essentials at a glance.

The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.

  • Brief, severe, electric-shock facial pains on one side, triggered by light touch, eating or wind

  • Carbamazepine is the first-line treatment and often dramatically effective

  • An MRI is arranged to look for a compressing blood vessel or other causes

  • Specialist: a consultant neurologist, with neurosurgical referral for resistant cases

Understanding the condition

What it is and what happens next.

What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.

What it is and how it feels

The pain of trigeminal neuralgia comes in sudden volleys - stabbing, shock-like jolts through the cheek, jaw or around the eye, lasting seconds but repeating many times a day. Everyday acts such as washing the face, shaving, chewing or a breeze become triggers, and many people first see a dentist convinced the problem is a tooth.

Diagnosis and treatment routes

Diagnosis is clinical, with MRI to look for vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve or, less commonly, multiple sclerosis. Carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine controls pain in most people; when medication fails or is not tolerated, options include microvascular decompression surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery and percutaneous procedures on the nerve. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem currently take 20-45+ weeks, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.

Seeing a specialist

Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.

The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant neurologist. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.

A quiet reminder

This guide is for information, not medical advice.

Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.

Frequently asked

Common questions about Trigeminal neuralgia.

Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.

  • What is trigeminal neuralgia?

    It is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain, causing sudden, severe, electric-shock-like facial pain.

  • What causes trigeminal neuralgia?

    Most cases are caused by a blood vessel compressing the trigeminal nerve near the brainstem; less commonly it results from multiple sclerosis, a tumour, or nerve damage from injury or surgery.

  • What are the symptoms?

    Sudden, severe, stabbing or electric-shock-like pain on one side of the face, often triggered by touch, chewing, talking or even a breeze, lasting seconds to a couple of minutes but recurring frequently.

  • Is trigeminal neuralgia dangerous?

    It isn't life-threatening, but the pain can be extremely severe and disabling, significantly affecting eating, speaking and quality of life if not well controlled.

  • Can trigeminal neuralgia be cured?

    Medication controls symptoms well for many people, and for those who don't respond, surgical options such as microvascular decompression can provide long-term, sometimes permanent, relief by addressing the underlying nerve compression.

  • How is trigeminal neuralgia treated?

    First-line treatment is usually an anticonvulsant medication such as carbamazepine, with other medications or surgical options like microvascular decompression, gamma knife radiosurgery, or nerve ablation considered if medication isn't effective or tolerated.

  • How long do trigeminal neuralgia episodes last?

    Individual pain episodes are brief, seconds to two minutes, but they can recur many times a day; the overall condition often runs in cycles with periods of frequent attacks followed by remission.

  • Trigeminal neuralgia vs dental pain - what's the difference?

    Trigeminal neuralgia causes brief, shock-like pain triggered by light touch or facial movement without any dental abnormality, whereas dental pain is usually more constant, linked to a specific tooth problem, and confirmed on dental examination.

  • When is surgery considered for trigeminal neuralgia?

    Surgery is generally considered when medication doesn't adequately control pain, causes intolerable side effects, or when imaging shows a clear vessel compressing the nerve that could be surgically corrected.

  • When should I see a specialist, and how quickly can I be seen privately?

    See a doctor promptly for severe facial pain to start treatment early. NHS neurology waits can be 20-45+ weeks; private neurologists can often see you within about two weeks.