Trigeminal Neuralgia is a neurological condition that causes excruciating sensations on the side of your face. It feels like you’re getting electrocuted. This condition affects the trigeminal nerve which carries sensation from your face to your brain. Sometimes from compressions, and sometimes there is no known cause.

When this condition first started for me, the best way I knew to describe it to the doctors was a contraction, in my face. I’ve given birth twice, and it literally felt like the same type of up and down wave to me. The pain slowly started, intensified, gets unbearable, and then gets a little better, until it starts over again. But never fully going away. You just wait for the next wave to start.

The pain is searing in the side of your face affecting the teeth, gums, jaw, cheek, lips, and for some their eyes and forehead.

For me, I actually lost vision in my left eye and hearing in my right ear, until I got on medication that lessened the attacks.

I begged to die. I couldn’t handle the attacks anymore.

I then was told this condition is called the “Suicide disease” for that exact reason- people want to end their life due to the excruciating pain.

And it’s so true.

There’s many things that can cause the attacks- brushing your teeth, putting on makeup, talking, eating, brushing your hair, touching your face, the wind blowing, heat, cold, and many more.

Treatment is different for everyone. Some take surgical route, some medications, and then others find that nothing provides relief.

TN is not one size fits all, and there is no cure.

Not only does this condition leave us in excruciating pain, but it also leaves us feeling hopeless.