Trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most distinctive pain syndromes in neurology.
It is diagnosed based on:
• Brief, severe, electric shock-like pain
• Lasting seconds to minutes
• Triggered by light touch (talking, brushing teeth, wind)
This condition is often caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve, sometimes visible on MRI.
Because its pattern is so specific, a careful clinical history is often the most powerful diagnostic tool.
