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Abnormal trigeminal neuralgia: How is it different from common migraines?
In the human nervous system, pain is not just a physical reaction, it is often a signal of physical health.Especially neuralgia, unlike ordinary headaches, may hide deeper neurological problems.Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and abnormal trigeminal neuralgia (ATN) are often misunderstood as migraine in daily life, but they have different pathological foundations and manifestations fundamentally.
Nerve pain is a pain targeting a specific nerve distribution, and trigeminal neuralgia is one example.
Differentiality between trigeminal neuralgia and migraine
Trigeminal neuralgia mainly involves three nerve branches of the face, which usually causes a severe pain like a knife. The pain lasts for a short time but is extremely severe.In contrast, migraines usually present with a persistent and pulsating pain, accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to photoacoustics.
The pain of trigeminal neuralgia is as rapid and severe as lightning, while migraine is a continuous pulse.
The unique manifestations of abnormal trigeminal neuralgia
In the case of abnormal trigeminal neuralgia (ATN), patients may experience more obscure symptoms that are often mistaken for other conditions, such as toothache or migraine.The pain of ATN can be heavy, burning, or even like a needle prick.Most patients experience pain when they express, speak or chew, and these ordinary daily behaviors are a huge challenge for these patients.
Diagnosis and mechanism
Diagnosing trigeminal neuralgia or abnormal trigeminal neuralgia usually requires a patient's medical history, pain description and physical examination.NEPC (laser-induced potential) and QST (quantitative sensory test) also play an important role in diagnosis.
Understanding the changes in neuroplasticity after nerve injury is crucial to clarifying the mechanism of hyperexcitation in the nervous system.
Treatment direction
The treatment of neuralgia is quite challenging because traditional painkillers are not effective for such pain.Usually, for neuralgia, doctors will choose more specialized drugs for treatment, including anti-epileptic and antidepressant drugs.For example, Pregabalin (solubonic acid sodium) is a drug specially developed for neuralgia.
When medication is ineffective, surgical treatment may be considered to relieve the pain.
Surgery Choice and Risk
If the medication does not relieve the pain, the doctor may recommend surgical intervention.Among them, microvascular decompression and partial nerve root resection will be considered.Although surgery can provide short-term relief, side effects or relapses of the disease may occur.
Conclusion
The diverse characteristics of neuralgia, as well as the subtle differences between trigeminal neuralgia and migraine, make the correct diagnosis and treatment even more important.Understanding the specific symptoms and medical background of these pain is crucial for professional doctors and patients.
Do we pay enough attention to the pain signals sent by our bodies in our daily lives?
