Trigeminal neuralgia

Overview

Trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux), is a nervous system disorder that affects your trigeminal nerve, the nerve that relays sensory information from areas of your face to your brain. This condition causes intense, stabbing pain in areas of your face.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), brain imaging (neuroradiology), and dental specialties have experience diagnosing and treating trigeminal neuralgia. Doctors will work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, dental specialties and other areas work together to evaluate and treat your condition.
• Surgical expertise. Mayo Clinic neurosurgeons have expertise and experience performing complex surgical procedures, including stereotactic radiosurgery, microvascular decompression and other procedures.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors conduct research in diagnosis and treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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Read more about diagnosis and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia.